MURPHYS-HSFS-2014 - 7th International Workshop on Multi-Rate Processes & Hysteresis, 2nd International Workshop on Hysteresis and Slow-Fast Systems, April 7-11, 2014 - Abstract
Alonso, Sergio
During pattern formation in spatially extended systems multiscale effects may generate new phenomena, which are not observed on the single scale. For example, the addition of potassium to the NO H2 reaction on a catalytic surface causes the breakup of large scale target patterns and the formation of short scale traveling waves. Thereby the potassium is thought to interact on a short length scale with molecular oxygen, an intermediate product in the reaction. We have studied this multiscale phenomenon with a reaction-diffusion model of the FitzHugh-Nagumo type with short scale molecular interactions. The analysis of the model reveals a wave instability, which leads to the formation of stable short scale traveling waves. These results produce a wave propagation which is in good agreement with experiments on the NO H2 reaction.