Effect of inhomogeneities on spiral wave dynamics in the Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction

Journal Article · Mon Oct 31 23:00:00 EST 2005 · Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.72.056205· OSTI ID:20709841

Smolka, Linda B; Marts, Bradley; Lin, Anna L ^[1]

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1. Department of Mathematics, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA and Department of Mathematics, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania 17837 (United States)

We examine the effects of controlled, slowly varying spatial inhomogeneities on spiral wave dynamics in the light sensitive Belousov-Zhabotinsky chemical reaction-diffusion system. We measure the speed of the grain boundary that separates two spirals, the speed of the lower frequency spiral being swept away by the grain boundary, and the speed of the slow drift of the highest frequency spiral. The grain boundary speeds are shown to be related to the frequency of rotation and wave number of the spiral pattern, as predicted from analysis of the complex Ginzburg-Landau equation [M. Hendrey et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 82, 859 (1999); Phys. Rev. E 61, 4943 (2000)].

• OSTI ID: 20709841
• Journal Information: Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics, Journal Name: Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 72; ISSN PLEEE8; ISSN 1063-651X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DIFFUSION
GINZBURG-LANDAU THEORY
GRAIN BOUNDARIES
ROTATION
VELOCITY