Front propagation dynamics with exponentially-distributed hopping (Q2494316)

The authors study reaction-diffusion systems where diffusion is by jumps whose sizes are distributed exponentially. First, the Fisher-like problem of propagation of a front into an unstable state is considered, as typified by the A + B \(\rightarrow\) 2A reaction. It is found that the effect of fluctuations is especially pronounced at small hopping rates. Fluctuations are treated heuristically via a density cutoff in the reaction rate. After the Fisher problem, a similar Snyder model is discussed designed to model the spread of colonies of plants, showing that the same physics applies upon the appropriate mapping of parameters. Then, the case of propagating up a reaction rate gradient is studied. The effect of fluctuations here is pronounced, with the front velocity increasing without limit with increasing bulk particle density. The rate of increase is faster than in the case of a reaction-gradient with nearest-neighbor hopping. Analytic expressions for the front velocity dependence on bulk particle density are derived. Computer simulations are performed to confirm the analytic results.