RUI: Pattern Formation in Reaction-Advection-Diffusion Systems with Lagrangian Chaos

这个个人研究奖基金的实验，将研究流体混合的影响，图案形成在相互作用的流体系统。 实验将特别关注拉格朗日混沌（混沌混合）对图案形成过程的作用。 将使用两种不同的流体流：闪烁涡流和环形配置中的振荡涡流链。 最初，实验将使用Belousov-Zhabotinsky反应，这是一种振荡化学反应，尽管也将使用其他相互作用系统进行研究，例如液晶或经历相变的油/蜡系统，以及黏菌培养物。 除了调查图案形成过程，实验还将测试有关增强扩散和超扩散运输对反应前沿传播的影响的理论预测。 这些实验解决了一个对各种各样的系统都非常重要的问题（因为流动在反应系统中是如此普遍），但令人惊讶的是，这个问题却很少受到关注。 除了有助于阐明图案形成过程之外，实验结果还将有助于未来微流体装置的发展，其中混沌是主要的混合机制。 实验将与本科生谁将参与研究的各个方面进行。 这些经验为培养下一代科学家迈出了宝贵的第一步。人们对微流控设备的开发非常感兴趣-微流控设备是一种极小规模的“工厂”，可以在集成电路大小的包装中加工和生产化学和生物制剂。 这只是流体混合在反应过程中起关键作用的系统的一个例子。 这个NSF DMR奖支持的实验，将研究流体混合和反应的相互作用在缓慢移动，有序的流动（如在微流体设备）。 特别是，实验将探讨混沌混合的重要性，这已被证明是缓慢移动和小规模流动的主要混合机制。所研究的流动将由以导致混沌混合的方式振荡的涡流（涡流池）组成。 最初，实验将使用化学反应，尽管研究也将与其他相互作用的系统，如液晶，油/蜡系统和黏菌培养。 除了与微流控设备的发展相关外，这些研究的结果还有助于解释聚变反应堆中等离子体的行为，从熔体制造合金过程中形成的模式，以及流行病期间疾病的传播。 实验将与本科生谁将参与研究的各个方面进行。 这些经验是培养下一代科学家的宝贵的第一步。

This individual investigator award funds experiments that will study the effects of fluid mixing on pattern formation in interacting fluid systems. The experiments will focus in particular on the role of Lagrangian chaos (chaotic mixing) on the pattern formation process. Two different fluid flows will be used: a blinking vortex flow, and an oscillating vortex chain in an annular configuration. Initially, the experiments will use the Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction, an oscillatory chemical reaction, although studies will also be made with other interacting systems, such as liquid crystals or oil/wax systems undergoing phase transitions, and slime mold cultures. In addition to investigating the pattern formation process, the experiments will also test theoretical predictions about the effects of enhanced diffusive and superdiffusive transport on the propagation of reactive fronts. These experiments address an issue that is of great importance to a wide variety of systems (since flows are so common in reacting systems), and yet one that has received surprisingly little attention. In addition to helping to elucidate the pattern-formation processes, the results of the experiments will help in the future development of microfluidic devices in which chaos is the dominant mixing mechanism. The experiments will be performed with undergraduate students who will participate in all aspects of the research. These experiences form a valuable first step in the training of the next generation of scientists.There is a great deal of interest in the development of microfluidic devices - extremely small scale "factories" that process and produce chemical and biological agents in packages as small as an integrated circuit. This is just one example of a system in which fluid mixing plays a critical role in a reaction process. This NSF DMR award supports experiments that will study the interaction of fluid mixing and reaction in slow-moving, well-ordered flows (such as those in microfluidic devices). In particular, the experiments will explore the importance of chaotic mixing, which has been demonstrated to be the dominant mixing mechanisms for slow-moving and small-scale flows. The flows studied will be composed of vortices (whirlpools) that oscillate in a manner that results in chaotic mixing. Initially, the experiments will use chemical reactions, although studies will also be made with other interacting systems, such as liquid crystals, oil/wax systems and slime mold cultures. In addition to being relevant to the development of microfluidic devices, results from these studies may also help explain the behavior of plasmas in fusion reactors, the patterns that form during the fabrication of alloys from a melt, and the spreading of diseases during an epidemic. The experiments will be performed with undergraduate students who will participate in all aspects of the research. These experiences form a valuable first step in the training of the next generation of scientists.