Diffusive mixing of periodic wave trains in reaction-diffusion systems

We consider reaction-diffusion systems on the infinite line that exhibit a family of spectrally stable spatially periodic wave trains u(0)(kx - omega t; k) that are parameterized by the wave number k. We prove stable diffusive mixing of the asymptotic states u(0)(kx + phi(+/-) :k) as x -> +/-infinity with different phases phi(-) not equal phi(+) at infinity for solutions that initially converge to these states as x -> +/-infinity. The proof is based on Bloch wave analysis, renormalization theory, and a rigorous decomposition of the perturbations of these wave solutions into a phase mode, which shows diffusive behavior, and an exponentially damped remainder. Depending on the dispersion relation, the asymptotic states mix linearly with a Gaussian profile at lowest order or with a nonsymmetric non-Gaussian profile given by Burgers equation, which is the amplitude equation of the diffusive modes in the case of a nontrivial dispersion relation. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.