An eigenvalue problem arising from spiky steady states of a minimal chemotaxis model (Q2252096)

The authors consider the following problem: find \(u\), \(v\) such that \[ \begin{aligned}(u_x-kuv_x)_x=0\quad & \text{in } (0,l), \\ v_{xx}-v+u=0,\quad v_x<0 \quad & \text{in } (0,l),\\ u_x=v_x=0 \quad & \text{if } x=0 \text{ or }l,\\ \int_0^lu(x)\,dx=2. \end{aligned}\tag{1} \] They show that for \(k\) positive and large there exists a unique solution and they find its ``principal part''; moreover this solution is a locally exponentially stable solution of an evolution problem set in \((0,l)\times (0, \infty)\) and appearing in a minimal chemotaxis model of \textit{E. F. Keller} and \textit{L. A. Segel} [J. Theor. Biol. 26, No. 3, 399--415 (1970; Zbl 1170.92306)]. These results are used in the study of the eigenvalues of the nonlocal boundary value problem \[ \begin{aligned} &\Phi_{xx}-\Phi+\left(\Phi-\frac{\int_0^l\Phi u\,dx}{\int_0^l u\,dx}\right)ku=\lambda\Phi, \quad x\in(0,l),\\ &\Phi_x(0)=0,\quad \Phi_x(l)=0. \end{aligned}\tag{2} \] In particular, it is shown that for large \(k\) all the eigenvalues are real and they form an infinite sequence \((\lambda_n)\). Principal parts of eigenvalues and eigenfunctions are determined. The solution of (1) starts with reduction to an algebraic system. Exponential stability is checked by studying an associated eigenvalue problem whose eigenvalues have negative real part. The approach to (2) proceeds through a related, standard Sturm-Liouville eigenvalue problem. Also, an Evans function is used. The paper improves and simplifies results from a paper by the second author et al., see [J. Differ. Equations 257, No. 9, 3102--3134 (2014; Zbl 1302.35053)].