Front propagation in non-homogeneous $ϕ^4$ model

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Gatlik, Jacek, Dobrowolski, Tomasz, Lasa, Dominika, Kevrekidis, Panayotis G.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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author Gatlik, Jacek
Dobrowolski, Tomasz
Lasa, Dominika
Kevrekidis, Panayotis G.
author_facet Gatlik, Jacek
Dobrowolski, Tomasz
Lasa, Dominika
Kevrekidis, Panayotis G.
contents We investigate the propagation of fronts in an inhomogeneous medium within the framework of the $ϕ^4$ model. The inhomogeneity is modeled either as an interface separating regions with different dissipation or as a finite layer with modified dissipation. The propagating front is described in two ways: as a kink solution in an effectively unbounded domain, and as a half-kink in a finite system. The half-kink represents the decay of the unstable state $ϕ=0$ toward the true vacuum. We show that while the effective description based on the kink provides accurate results, applying a similar approach to the half-kink leads to significant deviations from the predictions of the field model. We then demonstrate that a consistent description does exist and propose a modified effective model which reproduces the field-theory results over a relatively broad range of parameters.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2605_15826
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Front propagation in non-homogeneous $ϕ^4$ model
Gatlik, Jacek
Dobrowolski, Tomasz
Lasa, Dominika
Kevrekidis, Panayotis G.
Pattern Formation and Solitons
High Energy Physics - Phenomenology
We investigate the propagation of fronts in an inhomogeneous medium within the framework of the $ϕ^4$ model. The inhomogeneity is modeled either as an interface separating regions with different dissipation or as a finite layer with modified dissipation. The propagating front is described in two ways: as a kink solution in an effectively unbounded domain, and as a half-kink in a finite system. The half-kink represents the decay of the unstable state $ϕ=0$ toward the true vacuum. We show that while the effective description based on the kink provides accurate results, applying a similar approach to the half-kink leads to significant deviations from the predictions of the field model. We then demonstrate that a consistent description does exist and propose a modified effective model which reproduces the field-theory results over a relatively broad range of parameters.
title Front propagation in non-homogeneous $ϕ^4$ model
topic Pattern Formation and Solitons
High Energy Physics - Phenomenology
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.15826