Paper detail

Pattern formation with pde2path -- a tutorial

We explain some pde2path setups for pattern formation in 1D, 2D and 3D. A focus is on new pde2path functions for branch switching at steady bifurcation points of higher multiplicity, typically due to discrete symmetries, but we also review general concepts of pattern formation and their handling in pde2path, including localized patterns and homoclinic snaking, again in 1D, 2D and 3D, based on the demo sh (Swift-Hohenberg equation). Next, the demos schnakpat (a Schnakenberg reaction-diffusion system) and chemtax (a quasilinear RD system with cross-diffusion from chemotaxis) simplify and unify previous results in a simple and concise way, CH (Cahn-Hilliard) deals with mass constraints, hexex deals with (multiple) branch points of higher degeneracy in a scalar problem on a hexagonal domain, and shgc illustrates some global coupling. The demos acS, actor, schnakS and schnaktor (the Allen-Cahn and Schnakenberg models on spheres and tori) consider pattern formation on curved surfaces, cpol considers a problem of cell polarization described by bulk-surface coupling, and bruosc (Brusselator) explains how to augment autonomous systems by a time periodic forcing. Along the way we also comment on the choice of meshes and mesh adaptation, on time integration, and we give some examples of branch point continuation and Hopf point continuation to approximate stability boundaries.