A mean-field model for the motion of rectilinear vortices in the mixed state of a type-II superconductor is formulated. Steady-state solutions for some simple geometries are examined, and a local existence result is proved for an arbitrary smooth geometry. Finally, a variational formulation of the steady-state problem is given which shows the solution to be unique.

In this paper we consider a superconductor free boundary problem. Under isothermal conditions, a superconductor material (of ‘type I’) will develop two phases separated by a sharp interface Γ(t). In the ‘normal’ conducting phase the magnetic field is divergence free and satisfies the heat equation, whereas on the interface Γ(t), curl , where n is the normal and Vn is the velocity of Γ(t) in the direction of n; further, (constant) on Γ(t). Existence and uniqueness of a classical solution locally in time are established by Newton's iteration method under assumptions which enable us to reduce the 3-dimensional problem to a problem depending on essentially two space variables.

It is well-known that solutions to the one-dimensional supercooled Stefan problem (SSP) may exhibit blow-up in finite time. If we consider (SSP) in a half-line with zero flux conditions at t = 0, blow-up occurs if there exists T < ∞ such that limt↑Ts(t) > 0 and lim inft↑T⋅(t) = – ∞,s(t) being the interface of the problem under consideration. In this paper, we derive the asymptotics of solutions and interfaces near blow-up. We shall also use these results to discuss the possible continuation of solutions beyond blow-up.

We derive the asymptotic form of the self-similar solutions of the second kind of the Cauchy problem for Barenblatt's nonlinear filtration equation by perturbing the Lie group of the underlying linear problem. We also show that the decay rate, appearing in the similarity solutions, can be found by a simple inspection of the corresponding energy dissipation law.

This paper is devoted to an analysis of the formation of oscillatory viscous fingers in a Hele-Shaw cell on the basis of the interfacial wave theory, previously established for the pattern formation dynamics in dendrite growth, as well as in the classic Saffman–Taylor flow. In particular, we study the problem of selection and persistence of oscillatory fingers with a tiny bubble at the finger tip. We obtain uniformly valid asymptotic solutions for this problem, and derive the linear, global wave instability mechanism for this more complicated system. The global, neutrally stable modes are computed in a large region of parameters, which select the form of oscillatory fingers in the later stage of evolution. We have compared the theoretical predictions with the experimental data by Couder et al. (1986) and by Kopf-Sill & Homsy (1987), and found excellent quantitative agreement.

In this paper, we investigate the evolution of N-waves in a medium governed by the modified Burgers' equation. It is shown that the general behaviour when the nonlinearity is of arbitrary odd integer order is the same as for the cubic case. For an N-wave of zero mean displacement, a shock is formed immediately to prevent a multi-valued solution and a second shock is formed at later times. At a finite time, the second shock satisfies a sonic condition and this state persists. The Taylor-type shock structure ceases to be the appropriate description, and instead we have a shock which matches only algebraically to the outer wave on one side. At a larger time still, the other shock is affected but the two shocks remain distinct until the wave dies under linear mechanisms. The behaviour of N-waves of non-zero mean is also examined and it is shown that in some cases, a purely one-signed profile remains.