Trigger Waves in a Model for Catalysis

Abstract

We consider the model of catalysis due to Ziff, Gulari, and Barshad [Phys Rev. Lett. 56, 2553 (1986)] as a pattern formation problem. We find that the model supports trigger waves and we examine the dependence of the wave velocity on diffusion. In addition to the usual interface width there is a statistical broadening of the wave front that increases in time as $t^{\frac{1}{3}}$.

Roy Goodman

Professor, Associate Chair for Graduate Studies, Department of Mathematical Sciences

My research interests include dynamical systems and nonlinear waves, vortex dynamics, quantum graphs, and network inference