Bifurcation analysis and steady state patterns in reaction-diffusion systems augmented with self- and cross-diffusion

TL;DR

This paper investigates the long-term behavior and pattern formation in reaction-diffusion systems with self- and cross-diffusion, using bifurcation analysis and numerical methods to reveal new steady state patterns influenced by initial conditions and domain geometry.

Contribution

It introduces a generic methodology for analyzing augmented reaction-diffusion systems, including a Newton-based steady state evaluation and spectral stability analysis, unveiling novel patterns not seen with standard diffusion.

Findings

Steady states often associated with energy dissipation.

Spectral analysis around non-homogeneous equilibria was successfully performed.

New steady state patterns depend on initial conditions and domain shape.

Abstract

In this article, we carry out a study of long-term behavior of reaction-diffusion systems augmented with self- and cross-diffusion, using an augmented Gray-Scott system as a general example. The methodology remains generic, and is therefore applicable to other systems. Simulations of the temporal model (nonlinear parabolic system) reveal the presence of steady states, often associated with energy dissipation. A Newton method based on a mixed finite element method is provided, in order to directly evaluate the steady states (nonlinear elliptic system) of the temporal system, and is validated against its solutions. Linear stability analysis (LSA) using Fourier analysis is carried out around homogeneous equilibria, and using spectral analysis around non-homogeneous ones. For the latter, the spectral problem is solved numerically. A multi-parameter bifurcation is reported. Original steady state patterns are unveiled, not observable with linear diffusion only. Two key observations are made: a dependency of the pattern with the initial condition of the system, and a dependency on the geometry of the domain.