Stable spike clusters for the precursor Gierer-Meinhardt system in \(\mathbb {R}^2\) (Q1674629)

The paper deals with the Gierer--Meinhardt system of the form \[ \begin{cases} \varepsilon^2\Delta A-\mu(|y|)A+\frac{A^2}{H}=0 & \text{in}\;B_R,\\ D\Delta H-H+A^2=0 & \text{in}\;B_R,\\ \frac{\partial A}{\partial\nu}=\frac{\partial H}{\partial\nu}=0 & \text{on}\;\partial B_R, \end{cases} \] in the disc \(B_R\) around the origin with radius \(R.\) Here \(\nu\) stands for the unit outward normal to \(\partial B_R,\) the diffusivities \(\varepsilon\) and \(D\) are small positive constants satisfying \(0<\varepsilon^2\ll D\ll 1/\log\frac{\sqrt{D}}{\varepsilon}\ll 1,\) and the precursor inhomogeneity \(\mu(|y|)\) is a positive, rotationally symmetric and sufficiently smooth function. From authors' abstract: For any given positive integer \(k\) we construct a spike cluster consisting of \(k\) spikes which all approach the same nondegenerate local minimum point of the precursor inhomogeneity. We show that this spike cluster can be linearly stable. In particular, we show the existence of spike clusters for spikes located at the vertices of a polygon with or without centre. Further, the cluster without centre is stable for up to three spikes, whereas the cluster with centre is stable for up to six spikes. The main idea underpinning these stable spike clusters is the following: due to the small inhibitor diffusivity the interaction between spikes is repulsive, and the spikes are attracted towards the local minimum point of the precursor inhomogeneity. Combining these two effects can lead to an equilibrium of spike positions within the cluster such that the cluster is linearly stable.