Abstract
Recent simulation studies on several different models for reaction-diffusion systems have suggested that complex spiral waves with line defects can arise in period-2 oscillatory media. Here, we report the observation of such wave structures in a laboratory experiment. As in the simulation studies, the underlying line-defects do play a significant role governing the morphology and the temporal dynamics of the observed period-2 spiral waves. Various transitions of the line defect are discussed, as well as the emergence of a line-defect at the onset of a period-1 (P-1) to period-2 (P-2) transition. At the onset, an intermittently breathing line defect with the shape of a P-1 spiral emerges. With a subsequent change in a control parameter, the line-defect first dilates and undergoes a meandering transition, producing a compound tip trajectory. Since line defects are a generic property of complex periodic media, the observed phenomena are expected to arise in a broad class of complex periodic systems.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 4-11 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Journal of the Korean Physical Society |
Volume | 41 |
Issue number | 1 |
Publication status | Published - 2002 Jul |
Keywords
- Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction
- Complex periodic system
- Line defect
- Meandering spiral wave
- Period-2 spiral wave
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physics and Astronomy(all)