Invasion fronts on graphs: the Fisher-KPP equation on homogeneous trees and Erdős-Réyni graphs

Abstract: We study the dynamics of the Fisher-KPP equation on the infinite homogeneous tree and Erd\H{o}s-R\'eyni random graphs. We assume initial data that is zero everywhere except at a single node. For the case of the homogeneous tree, the solution will either form a traveling front or converge pointwise to zero. This dichotomy is determined by the linear spreading speed and we compute critical values of the diffusion parameter for which the spreading speed is zero and maximal and prove that the system is linearly determined. We also study the growth of the total population in the network and identify the exponential growth rate as a function of the diffusion coefficient, $\alpha$. Finally, we make predictions for the Fisher-KPP equation on Erd\H{o}s-R\'enyi random graphs based upon the results on the homogeneous tree. When $\alpha$ is small we observe via numerical simulations that mean arrival times are linearly related to distance from the initial node and the speed of invasion is well approximated by the linear spreading speed on the tree. Furthermore, we observe that exponential growth rates of the total population on the random network can be bounded by growth rates on the homogeneous tree and provide an explanation for the sub-linear exponential growth rates that occur for small diffusion.