Asymmetric spreading in highly advective, disordered environments
Abstract
Spreading of bacteria in a highly advective, disordered environment is examined. Predictions of super-diffusive spreading for a simplified reaction-diffusion equation are tested. Concentration profiles display anomalous growth and super-diffusive spreading. A perturbation analysis yields a crossover time between diffusive and super-diffusive behavior. The time's dependence on the convection velocity and disorder is tested. Like the simplified equation, the full linear reaction-diffusion equation displays super-diffusive spreading perpendicular to the convection. However, for mean positive growth rates the full nonlinear reaction-diffusion equation produces symmetric spreading with a Fisher wavefront, whereas net negative growth rates cause an asymmetry, with a slower wavefront velocity perpendicular to the convection.
Cite
@article{arxiv.physics/0501123,
title = {Asymmetric spreading in highly advective, disordered environments},
author = {John H. Carpenter and Karin A. Dahmen},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:physics/0501123},
year = {2007}
}
Comments
4 pages, 4 figures (with 11 EPS components) submitted to PRL