# Finding the solution of a PDE doesn't work

I'd like to find the solution of an ODE of order 2 :

sol = NDSolve[{2 phi[x] (1 - 3 phi[x] + 2 phi[x]^2) ==
Laplacian[phi[x], {x, y, z}, "Spherical"],
phi[0.00001] == 0.999999, phi[900] == 0.00000000001},
phi[x], {x, 0.0000001, 1000}]
Plot[Evaluate[phi[x] /. sol], {x, 0, 1000}, PlotRange -> Full]


As you can see it doesn't really work.

I'd like to have a solution where $$\phi(0)\approx 1$$ and $$\phi(\pm\infty)\approx 0$$. I wrote approximate values in order not to get singularities.

I think there are theorem that this solution should exist. Actually it corresponds to the radial Cahn-Hilliard equation.

Could you help me please ?

• NDSolve[...phi[0.001]==0.999, phi[9]==0.001}, phi[x], {x,0.001,9}] finishes without errors, but if I just push the boundaries without thinking about WorkingPrecision and number of steps and all the other things I need to consider to get a numeric DE solver to work on a hard problem then I get a variety of error messages. Can you very gently push those boundaries a little at a time and study the error messages and see if you can find a way to get it to complete without errors and with a reasonably correct solution as you get closer to what you want? – Bill Mar 26 '20 at 18:25
• Note that you are currently setting the boundary conditions to not be at the same place as the range of integration, which is going to add unnecessary complications. – SPPearce Mar 27 '20 at 6:20