Global bifurcation of localised 2D patterns emerging from spatial heterogeneity

Abstract We present a general approach to prove the existence, both locally and globally in amplitude, of fully localised multi-dimensional patterns in partial differential equations containing a compact spatial heterogeneity. While one-dimensional (1D) localised patterns induced by spatial heterogeneities have been well-studied, proving the existence of fully localised patterns emerging from a Turing instability in higher dimensions remains a key open problem in pattern formation. In order to demonstrate the approach, we consider the two-dimensional Swift–Hohenberg equation, whose linear bifurcation parameter is perturbed by a radially-symmetric potential function. In this case, the trivial state is unstable in a compact neighbourhood of the origin and linearly stable outside. We prove the existence of local bifurcation branches of fully localised patterns, characterise their stability and bifurcation structure, and then rigorously continue solutions to large amplitude via analytic global bifurcation theory. Notably, the primary bifurcating branch in the Swift–Hohenberg equation alternates between an axisymmetric spot and a non-axisymmetric ‘dipole’ pattern, depending on the width of the spatial heterogeneity.