In this paper, we review
analytical methods for a rigorous study of the
existence and stability of stationary, multiple
spots for reaction-diffusion systems. We will
consider two classes of reaction-diffusion
systems: activator-inhibitor systems (such as
the Gierer-Meinhardt system) and
activator-substrate systems (such as the
Gray-Scott system or the Schnakenberg model).
The main ideas are presented in the context of
the Schnakenberg model, and these results are
new to the literature.
We will consider the systems in a
two-dimensional, bounded and smooth domain for small diffusion
constant of the activator.
Existence of multi-spots is proved using tools
from nonlinear functional analysis such as
Liapunov-Schmidt reduction and fixed-point
theorems. The amplitudes and positions of spots
follow from this analysis.
Stability is shown in two parts, for
eigenvalues of order one and eigenvalues
converging to zero, respectively. Eigenvalues
of order one are studied by deriving their
leading-order asymptotic behavior and reducing
the eigenvalue problem to a nonlocal eigenvalue
problem (NLEP). A study of the NLEP reveals a
condition for the maximal number of stable
spots.
Eigenvalues converging to zero are investigated
using a projection similar to Liapunov-Schmidt
reduction and conditions on the positions for
stable spots are derived. The Green's function
of the Laplacian plays a central role in the
analysis.
The results are interpreted in the biological,
chemical and ecological contexts. They are
confirmed by numerical simulations
