Critical and bifurcation points of reaction-diffusion systems with conditions given by inclusions (Q5945655)

A reaction-diffusion system \[ u_t = d_1 \Delta u + f(u,v),\quad v_t = d_2 \Delta v + g(u,v) \] on a bounded domain \(\Omega\) in \(\mathbb R^n\) with boundary conditions \[ u = v = 0 \quad \text{on } \Gamma_D,\qquad \frac{\partial u}{\partial n} = 0,\quad \frac{\partial v}{\partial n} =- \frac{m(v)}{d_2} \quad \text{on } \Gamma_U \] is studied. Here \(d_1, d_2\) are diffusion parameters, \(f, g\) are differentiable functions, \(f(0,0)=g(0,0)=0\), \(\Gamma_D, \Gamma_U\) are disjoint parts of the boundary of \(\Omega\), \(m\) is a multivalued function of a certain type. The multivalued boundary condition can describe, e.g., a unilateral membrane or a certain regulation. The corresponding classical boundary conditions which arise by replacing the multivalued condition on \(\Gamma_U\) by the classical Neumann boundary condition also play a role. Assumptions are considered under which diffusion driven instability occurs for the case of the corresponding classical boundary conditions. The domain of \(d_1, d_2\) for which the trivial solution of this classical problem is stable is denoted by \(D_S\). The system is of activator-inhibitor type, \(u\) and \(v\) represent the activator and the inhibitor, respectively. A sequence of domains \(Z_j \subset \mathbb{R}^2_+\), \(j=1,2,\dots\), is described such that for \(d_1, d_2 \in Z_j\), the stationary multivalued problem has only the trivial solution. By using this result, it is proved that there is a bifurcation of stationary spatially nonconstant solutions (spatial patterns) in the closure of \(D_S\). This result is related to former papers guaranteing under stronger assumptions the existence of a bifurcation in the interior of \(D_S\) (a certain destabilizing effect of unilateral boundary conditions). The knowledge of the domains \(Z_j\) makes it possible to consider a wider class of multivalued (not necessarily unilateral) functions \(m\).