Dynamics of kinks in two-dimensional hyperbolic models

We study the motion of fronts for an extended version of the nonlinear wave equation, epsilon(2)phi(tt) + epsilon(2)gamma phi(t) = epsilon(2)Delta phi + f(phi) + epsilon h + epsilon(4)eta Delta phi(t) with positive epsilon << 1 in cartesian and polar coordinates and give a local description of the f ront in terms of its normal velocity, acceleration and curvature. We study analytically and numerically the motion of planar and circular fronts and p erturbations on them. (C)2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.