Pattern formation in a tunable medium: the Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction in an aerosol OT microemulsion

Phys Rev Lett. 2001 Nov 26;87(22):228301. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.87.228301. Epub 2001 Nov 7.

Abstract

Turing structures, standing waves, oscillatory clusters, and accelerating waves have been found in the spatially extended Belousov-Zhabotinsky system dispersed in water droplets of a reverse AOT microemulsion. The variety of patterns is determined by the tunable microstructure of the medium, i.e., by the concentration and size of water droplets. We propose a simple model to describe this system.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aerosols / chemistry*
  • Bromates / chemistry*
  • Emulsions
  • Malonates / chemistry*
  • Models, Chemical*
  • Oils / chemistry
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Water / chemistry

Substances

  • Aerosols
  • Bromates
  • Emulsions
  • Malonates
  • Oils
  • Water
  • malonic acid