RUI: Fronts and Patterns in Advection-Reaction-Diffusion Systems

流体流动在化学、物理和生物系统的行为中起着至关重要的作用。这个DMR-RUI（本科院校研究）资助实验，这些实验将探索流动对前沿运动的重要性（例如，火焰前锋，增长的固体，或在移动的人群中传播的疾病）和在反应系统中形成的模式。实验将强调简单的流体流动，表现出混乱的混合。 该研究的最终目标是开发一个通用框架，可用于描述和预测各种具有流体流动的反应系统的行为，包括微米和纳米尺度的化学处理系统，细胞和发育中的胚胎中的生物过程，以及聚变反应堆中的等离子体。 本科生将参与研究的各个方面，包括实验设计，仪器的建造和测试，数据采集和分析，以及结果的出版和会议演示。 这将是参与该项目的学生第一次真实的研究经历，并将在他们作为科学家的成长中发挥重要作用。技术摘要本DMR-RUI（本科院校研究）项目侧重于研究流体混合对反应系统中形成的前沿和模式的影响的实验。 这是一个适用于广泛系统的问题，包括流行病学和种群动力学、微米和纳米级化学过程、细胞和发育中的胚胎中的生物过程、固化过程和等离子体（例如，在聚变反应堆中）。 实验将使用一维和二维细胞流体流动，表现出混乱的混合，特别是那些具有超扩散运输的特点是利维航班连接系统的遥远的部分。 最初的研究将使用著名的Belousov-Zhabotinsky（BZ）系统，这是一种化学反应，已被证明会产生类似于各种系统的前沿和模式。 还将进行研究，看看是否在流动的生物系统中发现类似的效果，例如显示与BZ系统中的模式类似的黏菌培养物。 这项研究将与本科生一起完成，他们将参与研究的各个方面，包括实验设计，仪器的建造和测试，数据采集和分析，以及结果的出版和会议演示。 这些将是参与该项目的学生的第一次真实的研究经历，并将在他们作为科学家的发展中发挥重要作用。

Non-Technical AbstractFluid flows play a crucial role in the behavior of chemical, physical and biological systems. This DMR-RUI (Research at Undergraduate Institutions) grant funds experiments that will explore the importance of flows both on the movement of fronts (e.g., flame fronts, a growing solid, or a spreading disease in a moving population) and on the patterns that form in in reacting systems. The experiments will emphasize simple fluid flows that exhibit chaotic mixing. The ultimate goal of the research is to develop a general framework that can be used to describe and predict the behavior for a wide variety of reacting systems with fluid flows, including micro- and nano-scale chemical processing systems, biological processes in cells and developing embryos, and plasmas in fusion reactors. Undergraduate students will participate in all aspects of the research including experimental design, construction and testing of the apparatus, data-acquisition and analysis, and publication and conference presentation of the results. These will be the first real research experiences for the students involved in the project, and will play an important role in their growth as scientists.Technical AbstractThis DMR-RUI (Research at Undergraduate Institutions) project foucuses on experiments that investigate the effects of fluid mixing on fronts and patterns that form in reacting systems. This is an issue with applicability to a wide range of systems, including epidemiological and population dynamics, micro- and nano-scale chemical processes, biological processes in cells and developing embryos, solidification processes, and plasmas (e.g., in fusion reactors). The experiments will use both one-dimensional and two-dimensional cellular fluid flows that exhibit chaotic mixing, particularly those with superdiffusive transport characterized by Levy flights that connect distant parts of the system. Initial studies will use the well-known Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) system, a chemical reaction that has been shown to produce fronts and patterns similar to those in a wide range of systems. Studies will also be conducted to see if similar effects are found in flowing biological systems, such as slime mold cultures which display patterns similar to those in the BZ system. The research will be done in conjunction with undergraduate students who will participate in all aspects of the research including experimental design, construction and testing of the apparatus, data acquisition and analysis, and publication and conference presentation of the results. These will be the first real research experiences for the students involved in the project, and will play an important role in their development as scientists.