Internal stabilizability for a reaction-diffusion problem modeling a predator--prey system (Q1776903)

The authors are treating a predator-prey model with predator \(u(x,t)\) and prey \(v(x,t)\) that also depend on space variables \(x\) varying in a bounded \(n\)-dimensional domain. The model under discussion consists of a second order parabolic system with the Laplace operator as the leading term; it generalizes an ordinary predator-prey system for \(u(t)\), \(v(t)\) exhibiting a saturation effect of the predator when prey is abundant. The paper investigates the problem of zero stabilizability of the predator population by an appropriate internal control. Necessary as well as sufficient conditions are established. In the result and proof, an important role is played by the principal eigenvalue \(p\) of the negative Laplace operator; moreover, the comparison principle for parabolic equations is used repeatedly. It turns out that, in the case of zero stabilizability, the predator decays proportionally to a power of exp(-\(pt\)).