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Main Authors: ter Burg, Cathelijne, Zwicker, David
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.19445
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author ter Burg, Cathelijne
Zwicker, David
author_facet ter Burg, Cathelijne
Zwicker, David
contents Turing patterns are a central paradigm for describing spatial patterns in nature. The corresponding theory of reaction-diffusion dynamics combines ideal diffusion with nonlinear reactions, resulting in patterns when species diffuse at different rates and reactions are sufficiently nonlinear. However, real systems are more complex and particularly involve physical interactions between constituents. While such interactions can promote patterns, we here show that they can also induce dynamic, chaotic patterns. These patterns exhibit well-defined length and time scales, which result from cycles of droplet coarsening and fission. The dynamical patterns combine properties of traditional Turing patterns and chemically active droplets, which emerge for strong physical interactions. Our analysis thus reveals three qualitatively different regimes that emerge when two components interact physically and undergo nonlinear reactions.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2601_19445
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Intermediate physical interactions induce spatiotemporal dynamics in Turing patterns
ter Burg, Cathelijne
Zwicker, David
Biological Physics
Turing patterns are a central paradigm for describing spatial patterns in nature. The corresponding theory of reaction-diffusion dynamics combines ideal diffusion with nonlinear reactions, resulting in patterns when species diffuse at different rates and reactions are sufficiently nonlinear. However, real systems are more complex and particularly involve physical interactions between constituents. While such interactions can promote patterns, we here show that they can also induce dynamic, chaotic patterns. These patterns exhibit well-defined length and time scales, which result from cycles of droplet coarsening and fission. The dynamical patterns combine properties of traditional Turing patterns and chemically active droplets, which emerge for strong physical interactions. Our analysis thus reveals three qualitatively different regimes that emerge when two components interact physically and undergo nonlinear reactions.
title Intermediate physical interactions induce spatiotemporal dynamics in Turing patterns
topic Biological Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.19445