The impact of phenotypic heterogeneity on chemotactic self-organisation (Q2092846)

The authors introduce a model of chemotactic self-organisation with phenotypic heterogeneity, \begin{align*} \frac{\partial n_0}{\partial t}&=D\nabla^2n_0-\mu_{01}(\rho, s)n_0+\mu_{10}(\rho,s)n_ 1\\ \frac{\partial n_1}{\partial t}&=D\nabla^2n_1-\chi \nabla\cdot (n_1\nabla s)+\mu_{01}(\rho,s)n_0-\mu_{10}(\rho,s)n_1 \\ \frac{\partial s}{\partial t}&=\nabla^2s+n_0-s \end{align*} with \[ \rho=n_0+n_1, \quad \left.( u\cdot \nabla n_0, u\cdot \nabla n_1, u\cdot \nabla s)\right\vert_{\partial \Omega}=0, \] where \(\Omega \subset \mathbb{R}^d\) is a bounded domain with smooth boundary, \(u\) is the unit outer normal vector, and \(\mu_{01}\), \(\mu_{10}\) are switching functions of phenotype. Linear stability of positive uniform steady states is examined for \(d=1\) in accordance with switching functions, the sensitivity \(\chi\), and the size of \(\Omega\). Then numerical simulations are provided, where autoaggregation and oscillating patterns with extinction are observed for \(d=1\), and emergence of patterns is noticed for \(d=2\).