Propagation properties of reaction-diffusion equations in periodic domains

Abstract

We study the phenomenon of invasion for heterogeneous reaction-diffusion equations in periodic domains with monostable and combustion reaction terms. We give an answer to a question raised by Berestycki, Hamel and Nadirashvili concerning the connection between the speed of invasion and the critical speed of fronts. To do so, we extend the classical Freidlin–Gärtner formula to such equations and we derive some bounds on the speed of invasion using estimates on the heat kernel. We also give geometric conditions on the domain that ensure that the spreading occurs at the critical speed of fronts.