Title: An exact solution to a Stefan problem with variable thermal conductivity and a Robin boundary condition,
Abstract: In this article it is proved the existence of similarity solutions for a
one-phase Stefan problem with temperature-dependent thermal conductivity and a
Robin condition at the fixed face. The temperature distribution is obtained
through a generalized modified error function which is defined as the solution
to a nonlinear ordinary differential problem of second order. It is proved that
the latter has a unique non-negative bounded analytic solution when the
parameter on which it depends assumes small positive values. Moreover, it is
shown that the generalized modified error function is concave and increasing,
and explicit approximations are proposed for it. Relation between the Stefan
problem considered in this article with those with either constant thermal
conductivity or a temperature boundary condition is also analysed.