On non-standard finite difference models of reaction-diffusion equations

Abstract

Reaction-diffusion equations arise in many fields of science and engineering. Often, their solutions enjoy a number of physical properties. We design, in a systematic way, new non-standard finite difference schemes, which replicate three of these properties. The first property is the stability/instability of the fixed points of the associated space independent equation. This property is preserved by non-standard one- and two-stage theta methods, presented in the general setting of stiff or non-stiff systems of differential equations. Schemes, which preserve the principle of conservation of energy for the corresponding stationary equation (second property) are constructed by nonlocal approximation of nonlinear reactions. Assembling of theta-methods in the time variable with energy-preserving schemes in the space variable yields non-standard schemes which, under suitable functional relation between step sizes, display the boundedness and positivity of the solution (third property). A spectral method in the space variable coupled with a suitable non-standard scheme in the time variable is also presented. Numerical experiments are provided.