Gradient structures and geodesic convexity for reaction–diffusion systems

Abstract

We consider systems of reaction-diffusion equations as gradient systems with respect to an entropy functional and a dissipation metric given in terms of a so-called Onsager operator, which is a sum of a diffusion part of Wasserstein type and a reaction part. We provide methods for establishing geodesic λ-convexity of the entropy functional by purely differential methods, thus circumventing arguments from mass transportation. Finally, several examples, including a drift-diffusion system, provide a survey on the applicability of the theory.