On the parabolic-elliptic Keller-Segel system with signal-dependent
motilities: a paradigm for global boundedness and steady states
Abstract
This paper is concerned with a parabolic-elliptic Keller-Segel system
where both diffusive and chemotactic coefficients (motility functions)
depend on the chemical signal density. This system was originally
proposed by Keller and Segel in \cite{KS-1971-JTB2} to
describe the aggregation phase of {\it Dictyostelium
discoideum} cells in response to the secreted chemical signal cyclic
adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), but the available analytical results are
very limited by far. Considering system in a bounded smooth domain with
Neumann boundary conditions, we establish the global boundedness of
solutions in any dimensions with suitable general conditions on the
signal-dependent motility functions, which are applicable to a wide
class of motility functions. The existence/nonexistence of non-constant
steady states is studied and abundant stationary profiles are found.
Some open questions are outlined for further pursues. Our results
demonstrate that the global boundedness and profile of stationary
solutions to the Keller-Segel system with signal-dependent motilities
depend on the decay rates of motility functions, space dimensions and
the relation between the diffusive and chemotactic motilities, which
makes the dynamics immensely wealthy.