WKBJ approximation for linearly coupled systems: asymptotics of reaction-diffusion systems

TL;DR

This paper extends the WKBJ asymptotic method to multicomponent reaction-diffusion systems, providing approximation theorems and spectral analysis to understand pattern formation in heterogeneous environments.

Contribution

It generalizes scalar WKBJ theory to systems, offering new approximation theorems and spectral insights for reaction-diffusion models.

Findings

WKBJ approximation closely matches solutions using Airy functions

Spectral properties support the validity of the approximation

Demonstrates localized patterns in heterogeneous environments

Abstract

Asymptotic analysis has become a common approach in investigations of reaction-diffusion equations and pattern formation, especially when considering generalizations to the original model, such as spatial heterogeneity, where finding an analytic solution even to the linearized equations is generally not possible. The WKBJ method, one of the more robust asymptotic approaches for investigating dissipative phenomena captured by linear equations, has recently been applied to the Turing model in a heterogeneous environment. It demonstrated the anticipated modifications to the results obtained in a homogeneous setting, such as localized patterns and local Turing conditions. In this context, we attempt a generalization of the scalar WKBJ theory to multicomponent systems. Our broader mathematical approach results in general approximation theorems for systems of ODEs. We discuss the cases of exponential and oscillatory behaviour first before treating the general case. Subsequently, we demonstrate the spectral properties utilized in the approximation theorems for a typical Turing system, hence suggesting that such an approximation is reasonable. Note that our line of approach is via showing that the solution is close (using suitable weight functions for measuring the error) to a linear combination of Airy functions.