Mathematical tools for pattern formation

Authors Gerhard Dangelmayr, Lorenz Kramer

Publication date 16 December 1999

bifurcation scenarios center manifold reduction complex Ginzburg-Landau equation finite-dimensional approach infinite spatial domain modulation approach periodic boundary conditions secondary instabilities symmetry groups system of reaction diffusion-equations wave patterns

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Bifurcation theory for ordinary differential equations (34C23) Bifurcations in context of PDEs (35B32) Hydrodynamic stability (76E99)

Review text

We give an introduction and overview of some basic mathematical tools for description and analysis of pattern formation in spatio-temporally continuous systems. Since we are dealing with macro- or mesoscopic phenomena, a deterministic description on a hydrodynamic level is adequate. Thus the starting point is a set of nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs) that represents the evolution of the relevant variables of the physical system, together with boundary conditions. The organization of this article reflects two distinct approaches towards the analysis of instabilities; we exemplify the techniques in terms of a simple system of reaction diffusion-equations. The first approach may be called the ``finite-dimensional approach and leads to a description of instabilities in terms of ordinary differential equations (ODEs). The second approach may be called the ``modulation approach and leads to normal form equations in the form of PDEs. The two parts can in fact be read largely independently. In the first approach, the spatial domain is taken as bounded, or periodic boundary conditions are imposed. Then any instability of a stationary state can be described by a finite-dimensional system of ODEs which may be derived from the basic PDEs by means of a technique called ``center manifold reduction. The form of a reduced ODE system is mainly determined by the type of instability and by the symmetries. Therefore, we give short introduction into the relevant symmetries and symmetry groups, and discuss and interpret the reduced ODE's for ``generic instabilities in some simple cases. We also review classification results for two-dimensional spatial and wave patterns, and give an overview of further bifurcation scenarios involving more complicated dynamics. In the second approach, an infinite spatial domain is taken as the starting point. The reduction then leads to PDEs of Ginzburg-Landau type. In systems that are extended in only one dimension the procedure is rather straightforward, and for primary bifurcations there is in fact a large degree of universality. In two dimensions, various complications may arise, and in fact a reduction to one or two PDEs is strictly possible only in the presence of anisotropy. The results on some important classes of attractors of several equations are briefly presented with emphasis on the complex Ginzburg-Landau equation. Finally, we discuss complications and generalizations, phase equations valid away from threshold, and remark very briefly on secondary instabilities. For the entire collection see [Zbl 0907.00025].

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