Diffusion and pattern formation in spatial games.

Diffusion plays an important role in a wide variety of phenomena, from bacterial quorum sensing to the dynamics of traffic flow. While it generally tends to level out gradients and inhomogeneities, diffusion has nonetheless been shown to promote pattern formation in certain classes of systems. Formation of stable structures often serves as a key factor in promoting the emergence and persistence of cooperative behavior in otherwise competitive environments, however, an in-depth analysis on the impact of diffusion on such systems is lacking.