Simple and complex propagating reaction-diffusion fronts
- Univ. of Leeds (United Kingdom)
- West Virginia Univ., Morgantown, WV (United States)
Chemical waves are common features of many reactions in which there is autocatalysis. These waves typically travel and a steady velocity and with a particular, constant waveform. The speed and waveform reflect the coupling of the autocatalysts reaction to diffusion. For some autocatalytic systems, waves can be initiated with ease, no matter how small the initiation stimulus. In other cases, however, depending on the exact form of the kinetics, the shape of the reaction zone, or the occurrence of competing reactions that remove the autocatalyst, waves may develop only for certain ranges of the rate constants and only when a sufficiently large initial stimulus is applied. The analogous phenomenon for flame propagation is known as quenching and gives rise to the existence of flammability limits and minimum ignition energies. Depending on relative diffusivities chemical waves propagating in two or three dimensions may spontaneously develop patterned fronts analogous to the appearance of {open_quotes}cellular{close_quotes} flames. 42 refs., 10 figs.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 458782
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Physical Chemistry, Vol. 96, Issue 22; Other Information: PBD: 29 Oct 1992
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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