This chapter illustrates how to apply continuation techniques in the analysis of a particular class of nonlinear kinetic equations that describe the time evolution of a single scalar field like a density or interface profiles of various types. We first systematically introduce these equations as gradient dynamics combining mass-conserving and nonmass-conserving fluxes followed by a discussion of nonvariational amendmends and a brief introduction to their analysis by numerical continuation. The approach is first applied to a number of common examples of variational equations, namely, Allen-Cahn-and Cahn-Hilliard-type equations including certain thin-film equations for partially wetting liquids on homogeneous and heterogeneous substrates as well as Swift-Hohenberg and Phase-Field-Crystal equations. Second we consider nonvariational examples as the Kuramoto-Sivashinsky equation, convective Allen-Cahn and Cahn-Hilliard equations and thin-film equations describing stationary sliding drops and a transversal front instability in a dipcoating. Through the different examples we illustrate how to employ the numerical tools provided by the packages AUTO07P and PDE2PATH to determine steady, stationary and time-periodic solutions in one and two dimensions and the resulting bifurcation diagrams. The incorporation of boundary conditions and integral side conditions is also discussed as well as problem-specific implementation issues.Published as: Engelnkemper, S., Gurevich, S.V.,

We consider simple mean field continuum models for first order liquid-liquid demixing and solidliquid phase transitions and show how the Maxwell construction at phase coexistence emerges on going from finite-size closed systems to the thermodynamic limit. The theories considered are the Cahn-Hilliard model of phase separation, which is also a model for the liquid-gas transition, and the phase field crystal model of the solid-liquid transition. Our results show that states comprising the Maxwell line depend strongly on the mean density with spatially localized structures playing a key role in the approach to the thermodynamic limit.However, in a system of finite size or when a finite time horizon is considered, metastable states often play an important role and even unstable states may be crucial, as transient states, for extended time periods. The full set of states and their dependence on the various control parameters is conveniently presented in the form of bifurcation diagrams, well known in the context of dynamical systems and pattern formation theory [3][4][5]. The place of thermodynamic phase diagrams is taken by 'morphological phase diagrams' or state diagrams and stability diagrams [3,4,6]. The notion of a Maxwell point is often used in the context of pattern formation in nonconserved systems [7][8][9][10][11] to indicate equal energy states because of its dynamical significance [12,13]. In this context this notion applies equally to finite and infinite systems [7,8] although for finite systems it lacks the thermodynamic relevance as the condition for phase coexistence. In the context of buckling the corresponding concept is the Maxwell load [14].In this paper we show and discuss how the discontinuities in the TL represented by the Maxwell construction arise from the bifurcation diagrams relating stable, metastable and unstable steady states in finite-size systems. We focus on two systems: (i) phase decomposition of a binary liquid mixture and (ii) the liquid to crystalline solid phase transition. We investigate the transitions that occur in the context of the most basic mean-field continuum models for these two different phase transitions, namely, the Cahn-Hilliard equation [15][16][17] and the phase field crystal (PFC) model (or conserved Swift-Hohenberg equation) [18][19][20].Some aspects related to this question have been considered previously, in particular in relation to the nature of some of the states that can arise in finite-size systems in the two-phase region. References [21-24] describe theory and computer simulation results for atomistic models exhibiting gas-liquid, liquid-hexatic and hexaticsolid phase transitions that indicate how the Maxwell construction develops as the system size increases or the temperature decreases. For example, figures 3-5 of [23] compare Monte-Carlo computer simulation results in a finite three-dimensional domain (see also figures 2 and 3 of [22]) with the results from a capillary drop type model, also in a finite domain, with a mean-field expression for the chemi...

We study fully three-dimensional droplets that slide down an incline by employing a thin-film equation that accounts for capillarity, wettability, and a lateral driving force in small-gradient (or long-wave) approximation. In particular, we focus on qualitative changes in the morphology and behavior of stationary sliding drops. We employ the inclination angle of the substrate as control parameter and use continuation techniques to analyze for several fixed droplet sizes the bifurcation diagram of stationary droplets, their linear stability, and relevant eigenmodes. The obtained predictions on existence ranges and instabilities are tested via direct numerical simulations that are also used to investigate a branch of time-periodic behavior (corresponding to repeated breakup-coalescence cycles, where the breakup is also denoted as pearling) which emerges at a global instability, the related hysteresis in behavior, and a period-doubling cascade. The non trivial oscillatory behavior close to a Hopf bifurcation of drops with a finite-length tail is also studied. Finally, it is shown that the main features of the bifurcation diagram follow scaling laws over several decades of the droplet size.

Ensembles of interacting drops that slide down an inclined plate show a dramatically different coarsening behavior as compared to drops on a horizontal plate: As drops of different size slide at different velocities, frequent collisions result in fast coalescence. However, above a certain size individual sliding drops are unstable and break up into smaller drops. Therefore, the long-time dynamics of a large drop ensemble is governed by a balance of merging and splitting. We employ a long-wave film height evolution equation and determine the dynamics of the drop size distribution towards a stationary state from direct numerical simulations on large domains. The main features of the distribution are then related to the bifurcation diagram of individual drops obtained by numerical path continuation. The gained knowledge allows us to develop a Smoluchowski-type statistical model for the ensemble dynamics that well compares to full direct simulations.

Employing a long-wave mesoscopic hydrodynamic model for the film height evolution we study ensembles of pinned and sliding drops of a volatile liquid that continuously condense onto a chemically heterogeneous inclined substrate. Our analysis combines on the one hand path continuation techniques to determine bifurcation diagrams for the depinning of single drops of nonvolatile liquid on single hydrophilic spots on a partially wettable substrate and on the other hand time simulations of growth and depinning of individual condensing drops as well as of the long-time behaviour of large ensembles of such drops. Pinned drops grow on the hydrophilic spots, depin and slide along the substrate while merging with other pinned drops and smaller drops that slide more slowly, and possibly undergo a pearling instability. As a result, the collective behaviour converges to a stationary state where condensation and outflow balance. The main features of the emerging drop size distribution can then be related to single-drop bifurcation diagrams.