RUI: The effects of three-dimensional fluid flows on front propagation

流体流动在许多物理、化学、地质、天体物理和生物过程中起着至关重要的作用。 在过去的十年中，PI的研究小组已经做了大量的实验，在简单的，二维（2D）流体流动的反应前沿的行为。 这些实验的结果导致了一种理论的发展，该理论预测了流动中存在的“燃烧不变流形”（BIM），这些流形充当了阻碍反应前沿运动的无形障碍。由这笔赠款资助的实验将把这些研究扩展到三维（3D）流动。特别是，我们将探讨是否BIM在3D流仍然作为障碍，阻碍运动的反应前线。最终，这些实验可能导致更好地了解海洋中浮游生物的大量繁殖;更有效的化学反应器，特别是在微型装置中;等离子体流动过程，可能导致经济的聚变发电;细胞规模流动在生物过程中的作用，包括发育中胚胎的形态发生;超新星爆炸的引爆;以及人口流动对疾病传播的影响。这是一个RUI（研究在本科院校）补助金;因此，所有这些研究将与本科生谁将在研究的各个方面发挥积极作用，包括实验设计，建设和测试的设备，数据收集和分析，以及出版和结果的演示。 这些将是第一次真实的研究经验，为大多数这些学生，并将发挥重要作用，在他们的发展作为scients.Technical Abstracts的补助金将资助实验，将研究在三维（3D）流体流动的反应前沿的行为。 这是一个应用于物理学、化学、生物学和地质学中广泛的前沿产生系统的问题。PI在2D流中进行类似实验（所有实验都是与本科生一起进行的）方面具有丰富的经验。这些实验的结果导致了一种理论的发展，该理论确定了流中作为阻挡反应前沿的屏障的“燃烧不变流形”（BIM）。 拟议的实验将这些研究扩展到三维流动嵌套链的涡。 反应前沿将由可激发的Belousov-Zhabotinsky化学反应产生，该反应已被证明表现出与广泛的前沿产生系统相似的动力学。本研究所解决的问题包括：（a）BIM理论是否可以扩展到全三维问题;（B）在二维流中类似BIM的障碍是否仍然存在于三维流中的前沿传播;以及（c）在三维流中的反应障碍是否可以被弱时间依赖性破坏。这是RUI（本科院校研究）补助金;因此，所有这些研究将与本科生一起完成，他们将在研究的各个方面发挥积极作用，包括实验设计，仪器的建造和测试;数据收集和分析;以及结果的出版和展示。 这些将是第一次真实的研究经验，这些学生中的大多数，并将发挥重要作用，在他们的发展作为科学家。

Non-Technical abstractFluid flows play a crucial role in the behavior of many physical, chemical, geological, astrophysical and biological processes. During the past ten years, the PI's research group has done numerous experiments on the behavior of reaction fronts in simple, two-dimensional (2D) fluid flows. Results from those experiments have led to development of a theory that predicts the existence of "burning invariant manifolds" (BIMs) in the flow that act as invisible barriers that block the motion of reaction fronts. The experiments funded by this grant will extend those studies to three-dimensional (3D) flows. In particular, we will explore whether BIMs in 3D flows still act as barriers that impede the motion of reaction fronts. Ultimately, these experiments may lead to a better understanding of blooms of plankton in the oceans; more efficient chemical reactors, especially in micro-scale devices; processes in plasma flows that might lead to economical fusion-based electrical generation; the role of cellular-scale flows in biological processes including morphogenesis in a developing embryo; detonation of supernova explosions; and the effects of moving populations on the spreading of a disease. This is an RUI (Research at Undergraduate Institutions) grant; consequently, all of this research will be done with undergraduate students who will play an active role in all aspects of the studies, including experimental design, building and testing of the apparatus, data collection and analysis, and publication and presentation of the results. These will be the first real research experiences for most of these students, and will play an important role in their development as scientists.Technical AbstractThis grant will fund experiments that will study the behavior of reaction fronts in three-dimensional (3D) fluid flows. This is an issue with applications to a wide range of front-producing systems in physics, chemistry, biology and geology. The PI has extensive experience doing similar experiments (all with undergraduates) in 2D flows. Results from those experiments led to the development of a theory that identifies "burning invariant manifolds" (BIMs) in the flow that act as barriers that block reaction fronts. The proposed experiments will extend those studies to 3D flows composed of nested chains of vortices. Reaction fronts will be produced by the excitable Belousov-Zhabotinsky chemical reaction which has been shown to exhibit dynamics similar to those for a wide range of front-producing systems. Questions addressed by this research will include: (a) whether the BIM theory can be extended to the full 3D problem; (b) whether barriers similar to the BIMs in the 2D flows still exist to front propagation in 3D flows; and (c) whether reaction barriers in 3D flows can be destroyed by weak time dependence. This is an RUI (Research at Undergraduate Institutions) grant; consequently, all of this research will be done with undergraduate students who will play an active role in all aspects of the studies, including experimental design, building and testing of the apparatus; data collection and analysis; and publication and presentation of the results. These will be the first real research experiences for most of these students, and will play an important role in their development as scientists.