Propagation dynamics of a time periodic diffusion equation with degenerate nonlinearity

This paper is on study of traveling wave solutions and asymptotic spreading of a class of time periodic diffusion equations with degenerate nonlinearity. The asymptotic behavior of traveling wave solutions is investigated by using auxiliary equations and a limit process. In addition, the monotonicity and uniqueness, up to translation, of traveling wave solution with critical speed are determined by sliding method. Finally, combining super and sub-solutions and the stability of steady states, some sufficient conditions on asymptotic spreading are given, which indicates that the success or failure of asymptotic spreading are dependent on the degeneracy of nonlinearity as well as the size of compact support of initial value. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.