Renormalization Group Analysis of Nonlinear Diffusion Equations with Periodic Coefficients

Gastao A. Braga, Frederico Furtado, Jussara M. Moreira, Leonardo T. Rolla

Published 2009-06-11, updated 2016-09-04Version 2

In this paper we present an efficient numerical approach based on the Renormalization Group method for the computation of self-similar dynamics. The latter arise, for instance, as the long-time asymptotic behavior of solutions to nonlinear parabolic partial differential equations. We illustrate the approach with the verification of a conjecture about the long-time behavior of solutions to a certain class of nonlinear diffusion equations with periodic coefficients. This conjecture is based on a mixed argument involving ideas from homogenization theory and the Renormalization Group method. Our numerical approach provides a detailed picture of the asymptotics, including the determination of the effective or renormalized diffusion coefficient.