Turing patterns beyond hexagons and stripes

The best known Turing patterns are composed of stripes or simple hexagonal arrangements of spots. Until recently, Turing patterns with other geometries have been observed only rarely. Here we present experimental studies and mathematical modeling of the formation and stability of hexagonal and square Turing superlattice patterns in a photosensitive reaction-diffusion system. The superlattices develop from initial conditions created by illuminating the system through a mask consisting of a simple hexagonal or square lattice with a wavelength close to a multiple of the intrinsic Turing pattern's wavelength. We show that interaction of the photochemical periodic forcing with the Turing instability generates multiple spatial harmonics of the forcing patterns. The harmonics situated within the Turing instability band survive after the illumination is switched off and form superlattices. The square superlattices are the first examples of time-independent square Turing patterns. We also demonstrate that in a system where the Turing band is slightly below criticality, spatially uniform internal or external oscillations can create oscillating square patterns.     

Chaotic Turing pattern formation in spatiotemporal systems

The problem of Turing pattern formation has attracted much attention in nonlinear science as well as physics, chemistry and biology. So far spatially ordered Turing patterns have been observed in stationary and oscillatory media only. In this paper we find that spatially ordered Turing patterns exist in chaotic extended systems. And chaotic Turing patterns are strikingly rich and surprisingly beautiful with their space structures. These findings are in sharp contrast with the intuition of pseudo-randomness of chaos. The richness and beauty of the chaotic Turing patterns are attributed to a large variety of symmetry properties realized by various types of self-organizations of partial chaos synchronizations.     

Oscillatory Turing patterns in reaction-diffusion systems with two coupled layers

A model reaction-diffusion system with two coupled layers yields oscillatory Turing patterns when oscillation occurs in one layer and the other supports stationary Turing structures. Patterns include "twinkling eyes," where oscillating Turing spots are arranged as a hexagonal lattice, and localized spiral or concentric waves within spot-like or stripe-like Turing structures. A new approach to generating the short-wave instability is proposed.     

Turing Patterns in a Reaction-Diffusion System

We have further investigated Turing patterns in a reaction-diffusion system by theoretical analysis and numerical simulations. Simple Turing patterns and complex superlattice structures are observed. We find that the shape and type of Turing patterns depend on dynamical parameters and external periodic forcing, and is independent of effective diffusivity rate σ in the Lengyel-Epstein model. Our numerical results provide additional insight into understanding the mechanism of development of Turing patterns and predicting new pattern formations.     

Stable squares and other oscillatory turing patterns in a reaction-diffusion model

We study the Brusselator reaction-diffusion model under conditions where the Hopf mode is supercritical and the Turing band is subcritical. Oscillating Turing patterns arise in the system when bulk oscillations lose their stability to spatial perturbations. Spatially uniform external periodic forcing can generate oscillating Turing patterns when both the Turing and Hopf modes are subcritical in the autonomous system. Most of the symmetric patterns show period doubling in both space and time. Patterns observed include squares, rhombi, stripes, and hexagons.     

Stochastic Simulation of Turing Patterns

We investigate the effects of intrinsic noise on Turing pattern formation near the onset of bifurcation from the homogeneous state to Turing pattern in the reaction-diffusion Brusselator. By performing stochastic simulations of the master equation and using Gillespie＇s algorithm, we check the spatiotemporal behaviour influenced by internal noises. We demonstrate that the patterns of occurrence frequency for the reaction and diffusion pro- cesses are also spatially ordered and temporally stable. Turing patterns are found to be robust against intrinsic fluctuations. Sfochastic simulations also reveal that under the influence of intrinsic noises, the onset of Turing instability is advanced in comparison to that predicted deterministically.     

Molecular Turing structures in the biochemistry of the cell

Reactive lattice gas automata simulations show that Turing structure can form on a mesoscopic scale and are stable to molecular fluctuations in this domain. Calculations on the Sel'kov model suggest that Turing instabilities can give rise to global spatial symmetry breaking in ATP concentration within the cell cytoplasm with a mesoscopic Turing scale well within typical cell dimensions. This leads to a new mechanism for the global breaking of energy distribution in the cell. It also leads to reappraisal of the importance of the Turing effect on extended biochemical spatial structures and energy transport available to cell morphogenesis.     

双层非线性耦合反应扩散系统中复杂Turing斑图

采用双层耦合的Brusselator模型, 研究了两个子系统非线性耦合时Turing 模对斑图的影响, 发现两子系统Turing 模的波数比和耦合系数的大小对斑图的形成起着重要作用. 模拟结果表明: 斑图类型随波数比值的增加, 从简单斑图发展到复杂斑图; 非线性耦合项系数在0–0.1时, 系统1中短波模在系统2失稳模的影响下不仅可形成简单六边形、四边形和条纹斑图, 两模共振耦合还可以形成蜂窝六边形、超六边形和复杂的黑眼斑图等超点阵图形, 首次在一定范围内调整控制参量观察到由简单正四边形向超六边形斑图的转化过程; 耦合系数在0.1–1时, 系统1中短波模与系统2失稳模未发生共振耦合仅观察到与系统2相同形状的简单六边形、四边形和条纹斑图. 关键词： Brusselator模型 非线性耦合 Turing模     

Nonlinear analysis of a reaction-diffusion system: Amplitude equations

A reaction-diffusion system with a nonlinear diffusion term is considered. Based on nonlinear analysis, the amplitude equations are obtained in the cases of the Hopf and Turing instabilities in the system. Turing pattern-forming regions in the parameter space are determined for supercritical and subcritical instabilities in a two-component reaction-diffusion system.     

双层耦合非对称反应扩散系统中的超点阵斑图

通过线性耦合Brusselator模型和Lengyel-Epstein模型,数值研究了双层耦合非对称反应扩散系统中图灵模之间的相互作用以及斑图的形成机理.模拟结果表明,合适的波数比以及相同的对称性是两个图灵模之间达到空间共振的必要条件,而耦合强度则直接影响了图灵斑图的振幅大小.为了保证对称性相同,两个图灵模的本征值高度要位于一定的范围内.只有失稳模为长波模时,才能对另一个图灵模产生调制作用,并形成多尺度时空斑图.随着波数比的增加,短波模子系统依次经历黑眼斑图、白眼斑图以及时序振荡六边形斑图的转变.研究表明失稳图灵模与处于短波不稳定区域的高阶谐波模之间的共振是产生时序振荡六边形的主要原因.     

Controlling the transition between Turing and antispiral patterns by using time-delayed-feedback

The controllable transition between Turing and antispiral patterns is studied by using a time-delayed-feedback strategy in a FitzHugh-Nagumo model.We treat the time delay as a perturbation and analyse the effect of the time delay on the Turing and Hopf instabilities near the Turing-Hopf codimension-two phase space.Numerical simulations show that the transition between the Turing patterns(hexagon,stripe,and honeycomb),the dual-mode antispiral,and the antispiral by applying appropriate feedback parameters.The dual-mode antispiral pattern originates from the competition between the Turing and Hopf instabilities.Our results have shown the flexibility of the time delay on controlling the pattern formations near the Turing-Hopf codimension-two phase space.     

Turing bifurcation in a reaction-diffusion system with density-dependent dispersal

Motivated by the recent finding [N. Kumar, G.M. Viswanathan, V.M. Kenkre, Physica A 388 (2009) 3687] that the dynamics of particles undergoing density-dependent nonlinear diffusion shows sub-diffusive behaviour, we study the Turing bifurcation in a two-variable system with this kind of dispersal. We perform a linear stability analysis of the uniform steady state to find the conditions for the Turing bifurcation and compare it with the standard Turing condition in a reaction-diffusion system, where dispersal is described by simple Fickian diffusion. While activator-inhibitor kinetics are a necessary condition for the Turing instability as in standard two-variable systems, the instability can occur even if the diffusion constant of the inhibitor is equal to or smaller than that of the activator. We apply these results to two model systems, the Brusselator and the Gierer-Meinhardt model.     

Pattern formation in an N+Q component reaction-diffusion system

A general N+Q component reaction-diffusion system is analyzed with regard to pattern forming instabilities (Turing bifurcations). The system consists of N mobile species and Q immobile species. The Q immobile species form in response to reactions between the N mobile species and an immobile substrate and allow the Turing instability to occur. These results are valid both for bifurcations from a spatially uniform state and for systems with an externally imposed gradient as in the experimental systems in which Turing patterns have been observed. It is shown that the critical wave number and the location of the instability in parameter space are independent of the substrate concentration. It is also found that the system necessarily undergoes a Hopf bifurcation as the total substrate concentration is decreased. Further, in the case that all the mobile species diffuse at identical rates we show that if the full system is at a point of Turing bifurcation then the N component mobile subsystem is at transition from an unstable focus to an unstable node, and the critical wave number is simply related to the degenerate positive eigenvalue of the mobile subsystem. A sequence of bifurcations that occur in the eigenspectra as the total substrate concentration is decreased to zero is also discussed.     

Spatial recurrence strategies reveal different routes to Turing pattern formation in chemical systems

We analyze the temporal evolution of hexagonal Turing patterns in two Belousov-Zhabotinsky reactions performed in water-in-oil reverse micro-emulsions under different experimental conditions. The two reactions show different routes to pattern formation through localized spots and through a self replication mechanism. The Generalized Recurrence Plot (GRP) and the Generalized Recurrence Quantification Analysis (GRQA) are used for the investigation of spatial patterns and clearly reveal the different routes leading to the formation of stationary Turing structures.     

Competition of Spatial and Temporal Instabilities underTime Delay near Codimension-Two Turing-Hopf Bifurcations

Competition of spatial and temporal instabilities under time delay near the codimension-two Turing-Hopf bifurcations is studied in a reaction-diffusion equation. The time delay changes remarkably the oscillation frequency, the intrinsic wave vector, and the intensities of both Turing and Hopf modes.
The application of appropriate time delay can control the competition between the Turing and Hopf modes. Analysis shows that individual or both feedbacks can realizethe control of the transformation between the Turing and Hopf patterns.Two-dimensional numerical simulations validate the analytical results.     

局域浓度调控扩散系数的次氯酸-碘离子-丙二酸系统图灵斑图形成中的反常扩散

通过数值模拟及振幅方程解析解方法,从实空间和倒空间分析了受局域浓度扩散系数调控下次氯酸-碘离子-丙二酸反应扩散系统图灵斑图形成的扩散机理.在零扩散系数调节下,斑图形成为典型的菲克扩散;而在负向正向扩散系数调节下,斑图的形成依赖欠扩散和超扩散.图灵系统的浓度稳态振幅对随机初始条件敏感性随局域浓度扩散调控系数k的增大而增加.     

Spatial resonances and superposition patterns in a reaction-diffusion model with interacting Turing modes

Spatial resonances leading to superlattice hexagonal patterns, known as "black-eyes," and superposition patterns combining stripes and/or spots are studied in a reaction-diffusion model of two interacting Turing modes with different wavelengths. A three-phase oscillatory interlacing hexagonal lattice pattern is also found, and its appearance is attributed to resonance between a Turing mode and its subharmonic.     

六边形格子态斑图的数值模拟

采用双层耦合的Lengel-Epstein模型, 通过改变两子系统图灵模的强度比, 获得了四种的六边形格子态和多种非格子态结构. 模拟结果表明: 反应扩散系统的格子态结构由三套子结构叠加而成, 是两图灵模的波数比和强度比共同作用的结果, 两模的强度比决定了三波共振的具体模式; 另外, 系统选择格子态斑图所需的两图灵模的强度比大于非格子态斑图的强度比; 逐步增加两图灵模强度比, 出现的斑图趋于从复杂到简单变化. 深入研究发现: 不同互质数对(a, b)对应的格子态斑图的稳定性不同, 其中(3, 2)对应的格子态结构最为稳定.     

Spontaneous symmetry breaking turing-type pattern formation in a confined Dictyostelium cell mass

We have discovered a new type of patterning which occurs in a two-dimensionally confined cell mass of the cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum. Besides the longitudinal structure reported earlier, we observed a spontaneous symmetry breaking spot pattern whose wavelength shows similar strain dependency to that of the longitudinal pattern. We propose that these structures are due to a reaction-diffusion Turing instability similar to the one which has been exemplified by CIMA (chlorite-iodide-malonic acid) reaction. The present finding may exhibit the first biochemical Turing structure in a developmental system with a controllable boundary condition.     

Dash waves in a reaction-diffusion system

Patterns in reaction-diffusion systems generally consist of smooth traveling waves or of stationary, discontinuous Turing structures. Hybrid patterns that blend the properties of waves and Turing structures have not previously been observed. We report observation of dash waves, which consist of wave segments regularly separated by gaps, moving coherently in the Belousov-Zhabotinsky system dispersed in water-in-oil microemulsion. Dash waves emerge from the interaction between excitable and pseudo-Turing-unstable steady states. We are able to generate dash waves in simulations with simple models.