Exact minimum speed of traveling waves in a Keller--Segel model

Abstract

In this paper we present a Keller--Segel model with logistic growth dynamics arising in the study of chemotactic pattern formation. We prove the existence of a minimum wave speed for which the model exhibits nonnegative travelling wave solutions at all speeds above this value and none below. The exact value of the minimum wave speed is given for all biologically relevant parameter values. These results strengthen recent results where non-sharp upper and lower bounds on the minimum wave speed were derived in a restricted parameter regime.