Chemotactic cell aggregation viewed as instability and phase separation

Abstract

The paper focuses on the pattern formation of a chemotactic cell aggregation model with a mechanism that density suppresses motility. The model exhibits four types of cell aggregation patterns: single-point peaks, hot spots, cold spots, and stripes, depending on the parameters and mean density. The analysis is performed in two ways. First, traditional instability analysis reveals the existence of two critical densities. This local analysis shows patterns emerge if the initial mean density lies between the two values. Second, a phase separation method using van der Waals’ double well potential reveals that pattern formation is possible in a bigger parameter regime that includes the one identified by the local analysis. This non-local analysis shows that pattern formation occurs beyond the parameter regimes of the classical local instability analysis.