A non-autonomous bifurcation problem for a non-local scalar one-dimensional parabolic equation

Abstract: In this paper we study the asymptotic behavior of solutions for a non-local non-autonomous scalar quasilinear parabolic problem in one space dimension. Our aim is to give a fairly complete description of the the forwards asymptotic behavior of solutions for models with Kirchoff type diffusion. In the autonomous we use the gradient structure of the model, some symmetry properties of solutions and develop comparison results to obtain a sequence of bifurcations of equilibria analogous to that seen in the model with local diffusivity. We give conditions so that the autonomous problem admits at most one positive equilibrium and analyse the existence of sign changing equilibria. Also using symmetry and our comparison results we construct what is called non-autonomous equilibria to describe part of the asymptotics of the associated non-autonomous non-local parabolic problem.