Linear stability of delayed reaction–diffusion systems

A common feature of pattern formation in both space and time is the destabilization of a stable equilibrium solution of an ordinary differential equation by adding diffusion or delay, or both. Here we study linear stability of general reaction–diffusion systems with off-diagonal time delays. We show that a delay-stable system cannot be destabilized by diffusion, and that a diffusion stable system is also stable with respect to delay, if the diffusion is sufficiently fast. A system with direct negative feedback which is strongly stable with respect to diffusion can be destabilized by off-diagonal delay.