Journal of Physical Chemistry A, Vol.102, No.15, 2540-2546, 1998
Control of mosaic and turing patterns by light and electric field in the Methylene Blue sulfide-oxygen system
A variety of spatial patterns emerging in a system containing Methylene Blue, sulfide, and oxygen in a liquid layer and in a polyacrylamide gel are presented. We show the formation of long-lasting mosaic patterns arising from hydrodynamic instability and the transition from an irregular to a more regular, striped structure which occurs under the influence of an external electric field. We also demonstrate the formation of Turing patterns in a gel matrix. Here the gel plays an important role in the pattern formation process by slowing down the diffusion of the activator MB+. We present experiments showing that pattern formation can be influenced by visible light. An inhomogeneous illumination of the gel-sheet leads to selected regions of activity, which generates stripes instead of hexagons.
Keywords:BELOUSOV-ZHABOTINSKII REACTION;SPIRAL WAVES;EXCITABLE MEDIUM;HYDRODYNAMIC INSTABILITIES;CHEMICAL OSCILLATION;SPATIAL PATTERNS;STATIONARY;REDUCTION;DYNAMICS;BROMATE