Complex pattern formation in reaction-diffusion systems with spatially varying parameters (Q1775087)

Using a known Gierer-Meinhardt (GM) model as an example, this work presents results of systematic investigation of the pattern formation in a system of two reaction-diffusion equations for the concentrations of an activator and inhibitor, in which the Turing instability takes place, in the case when various control parameters are subjected to monotonous or spatially periodic modulation across the system. The work presents results showing how the modulation of each parameter, separately from others, affects the Turing-type pattern formation, in both one- and two-dimensional versions of the GM model. Various stable generic patterns are identified, such as localized and quasi-periodic ones in one dimension, and cellular structures in two dimensions. The thus found structures are compared with various skin patterns found in animals.