On a class of Keller-Segel chemotaxis systems with cross-diffusion (Q2355430)

Global existence and the structure of the set of steady states are studied for a chemotaxis system with cross-diffusion \[ \begin{aligned} \partial_t u &= \text{div}\left( d_1 \nabla u - \chi \phi_1(u) \phi_2(v) \nabla v \right), \quad x\in\Omega, \, t>0, \\ \partial_t v &= \delta \Delta u + d_2 \Delta v - \alpha v + f(u), \quad x\in\Omega, \, t>0,\end{aligned} \] supplemented with homogeneous Neumann boundary conditions and nonnegative initial data \((u_0,v_0)\). Here, \(\Omega\) is a bounded domain of \(\mathbb{R}^n\), \(1\leq n\leq 3\), \((\delta,d_1,d_2,\chi,\alpha)\) are positive parameters, and \(f\) is a sublinear increasing function satisfying \(f(0)=0\). The chemotactic sensitivity is taken to be \(\chi \phi_1(u) \phi_2(v)\) with \(c_1 (1+|s|)^{-\beta} \leq \phi_2(s)\leq c_2\) for some positive \(c_1, c_2\) and \(\beta\in (0,1)\) and the assumptions on \(\phi_1\) include in particular the classical Keller-Segel model \(\phi_1(r)=r\) and the volume-filling model \(\phi_1(r) = r(1-r/K)\), \(K>0\). The fact that the addition of the cross-diffusion term \(\delta \Delta u\) prevents the finite time blow-up, which occurs when \(\delta=0\), and ensures global existence was noticed in [\textit{S. Hittmeir} and \textit{A. Jüngel}, SIAM J. Math. Anal. 43, No. 2, 997--1022 (2011; Zbl 1259.35114)] when \(\phi_1=\text{id}\), \(\phi_2=1\), and \(f=\text{id}\). This result is extended here to a wider setting with a similar proof. Concerning the stationary problem, it is clear that \((u^*,f(u^*)/\alpha)\) is a constant steady state which is unstable if \(\delta\) is small enough and \(\chi\) is large enough. Local and global bifurcation techniques are then used to show the existence of non-constant stationary solutions for sufficiently small values of \(\delta\). The stability of these solutions is also studied. More precise results on this issue are obtained in one space dimension.