On the Multiplicity of Solutions Of a Differential Equation Arising in Chemical Reactor Theory

Abstract : Consider the boundary value problem y double prime + 1/x y' + beta exp (- 1//y/) = 0, y'(0) = y(1) = tau where beta > or = 0, tau > or = 0. The authors are concerned with a mathematically rigorous numerical study of the number of solutions in any bounded portion of the positive quadrant (tau > or = 0, beta > or = 0) of the tau, beta plane. These correct computational results may then be matched with asymptotic (beta nears infinity, tau > or = 0) results developed earlier. (Modified author abstract)