Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2025 / iii / Paper 355 / 1

Write the reaction terms asA nonzero homogeneous equilibrium satisfies $v_{\ast }=\beta u_{\ast }$ and $1+u_{\ast }-\gamma v_{\ast }=0$, henceFor physically positive populations it exists exactly when

The reaction Jacobian matrix at this equilibrium isIts trace and determinant areThe equilibrium is therefore stable to spatially uniform perturbations when

For a spatial Fourier mode of wavenumber $k$, put $q=k^2$. The linearized reaction-diffusion system has matrixIts trace is smaller than $\mathrm{tr}J$, whileThe two-species diffusion-driven instability criterion says that this upward-opening quadratic becomes negative for some $q>0$ precisely whenCombining all conditions, a Turing instability may occur in the region

At onset the discriminant vanishes, and the double root isThe threshold relation givesso the critical wavenumber isIf $d=1$, uniform stability requires $\beta >1$ whereas diffusion-driven instability requires $d>\beta$. These inequalities are incompatible, so the Turing region vanishes.