Exponentially slow motion of interface layers for the one-dimensional Allen-Cahn equation with nonlinear phase-dependent diffusivity

This paper considers a one-dimensional generalized Allen-Cahn equation of the form $$u_t = \varepsilon^2 (D(u)u_x)_x - f(u),$$ where $\varepsilon>0$ is constant, $D=D(u)$ is a positive, uniformly bounded below diffusivity coefficient that depends on the phase field $u$ and $f(u)$ is a reaction function that can be derived from a double-well potential with minima at two pure phases $u = \alpha$ and $u = \beta$. It is shown that interface layers (namely, solutions that are equal to $\alpha$ or $\beta$ except at a finite number of thin transitions of width $\varepsilon$) persist for an exponentially long time proportional to $\exp(C/\varepsilon)$, where $C > 0$ is a constant. In other words, the emergence and persistence of \emph{metastable patterns} for this class of equations is established. For that purpose, we prove energy bounds for a renormalized effective energy potential of Ginzburg-Landau type. Numerical simulations, which confirm the analytical results, are also provided.