Published online by Cambridge University Press: 14 November 2011
We consider the behaviour at x = ±∞ of solutions to reaction-diffusion equations modelling laminar flames in a premixed reactive gas. We show that if the initial data have limits at ±∞, then the solutions satisfy ODEs at ±∞ for all positive time. We then analyse the qualitative behaviour of solutions to the ODEs. Our applications include extensions of previous results on questions of flame propagation versus extinction, and a new decay result: if the initial temperature is above ignition temperature at one end of the domani and if the initial concentration vanishes at the other, then we show that the concentration decays^to zero uniformly as the time variable goes to infinity.