Wavenumber selection in coupled transport equations

Abstract

We study mechanisms for wavenumber selection in a minimal model for run-and-tumble dynamics. We show that nonlinearity in tumbling rates induces the existence of a plethora of traveling- and standing-wave patterns, as well as a subtle selection mechanism for the wavenumbers of spatio-temporally periodic waves. We comment on possible implications for rippling patterns observed in colonies of myxobacteria.