Abstract
Anomalous diffusion can be characterized by a mean-squared displacement 〈x2(t)〉 that is proportional tα ta where a α = 1. A class of one-dimensional moving boundary problems is investigated that involves one or more regions governed by anomalous diffusion, specifically subdiffusion (α < 1). A novel numerical method is developed to handle the moving interface as well as the singular history kernel of subdiffusion. Two moving boundary problems are solved: the first involves a subdiffusion region to the one side of an interface and a classical diffusion region to the other. The interface will display non-monotone behaviour. The subdiffusion region will always initially advance until a given time, after which it will always recede. The second problem involves subdiffusion regions to both sides of an interface. The interface here also reverses direction after a given time, with the more subdiffusive region initially advancing and then receding.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 3348-3369 |
Number of pages | 22 |
Journal | Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences |
Volume | 468 |
Issue number | 2147 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Nov 8 2012 |
Keywords
- Anomalous diffusion
- Fractional diffusion equation
- Moving boundary
- Subdiffusion
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Engineering
- General Physics and Astronomy
- General Mathematics