Phase Waves in Oscillatory Chemical Reactions.

Abstract

A theory is presented for the effect of heterogeneity on an oscillatory chemically reactive system in a stable limit cycle such as in heterogeneous catalysis. A perturbation technique is developed free of secular behavior for the solution of the non-linear partial differential equations. The solutions are obtained in terms of a phase function which obeys a diffusion equation. Due to this diffusion there exist phase waves which propagate down the phase gradient. Equations are derived for the position of the phase front as a function of time, the departure (arrival) times of waves and the number of waves emitted from a center of heterogeneous catalysis, the rate of wave emission. the lifetime of each wave, the asymptotic wave pattern, the interference effects between neighboring heterogeneities (pacemakers), and local renormalization effects (frequency changes) from heterogeneities extending over regions of non-zero extent. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 01, 1972
Accession Number
AD0752463

Entities

People

  • John Ross
  • Peter Ortoleva

Organizations

  • Purdue University

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Catalysis
  • Chemical Reactions
  • Cooperation
  • Differential Equations
  • Diffusion
  • Emission
  • Equations
  • Frequency
  • Heterogeneity
  • Massachusetts
  • Mathematical Analysis
  • Mathematics
  • Pacemakers
  • Partial Differential Equations

Fields of Study

  • Mathematics

Readers

  • Calculus or Mathematical Analysis
  • Coastal Oceanography
  • Combustion science or combustion engineering.