On Some Incommensurate Fractional-Order Reaction–Diffusion Systems: The Degn–Harrison and Its Stability

Abstract

In this paper, we consider a reaction–diffusion system governed by incommensurate fractional time derivatives based on the Degn–Harrison model. Its formulation incorporates various memory effects on axial position through Caputo derivatives of variable orders, producing a more realistic modeling of the temporal dynamics. This paper starts with a study of the spatially homogeneous system and establishes conditions for local stability by using the Matignon criterion. The spectral decomposition method under Neumann boundary condition is then applied to study the complete reaction–diffusion system and describe diffusion-induced instabilities. Our results indicate that the noninteger fractional orders lead to significant changes in stability regions, as well as the initiation of pattern formation. Specifically, the orders of fractions induced as a control variable are regarded to be effective in controlling the stability of the system, thus they are global (or positive) control variables when their values achieved at some levels apply to the entire saturation, etc. Our numerical simulations are in excellent agreement with the theoretical predictions and show that memory asymmetry induces complex spatiotemporal dynamics not seen for classical integer-order systems.