Pattern formation in the bistable Gray-Scott model

The paper presents a computer simulation study of a variety of far-from-equilibrium phenomena that can arise in a bistable chemical reaction-diffusion system which also displays Turing and Hopf instabilities. The Turing bifurcation curve and the wave number for the patterns of maximum linear growth rate are obtained. The distribution in parameter space of a wide variety of different spatio-temporal attractors that can be reached through a strong local perturbation of the linearly stable homogeneous steady state is mapped out. Special emphasis is given to the newly discovered spot multiplication process in which cell-like structures replicate themselves until they occupy the entire system.