Premixed flames provide a unique experimental
setting for visualizing the dynamics of pattern formation. The system has
hundreds of states ranging from highly ordered to intermittent and chaotic.
Image processing, visualization and computer animation are used to
construct simplified visual models of the behavior and to analyze the
complex motions of the system.
The following examples show how image processing and visualization
are used in the analysis.
Splitting and Merging Cells The combustion experiment has several
states in which cells split and merge. In the simplest cases,
cells split and merging occurs as the system makes
transitions between unstable ordered states. In more complex cases,
the splitting and merging appears as an indication of underlying
chaotic behavior.
Hopping Modes: Hopping modes are characterized by abrupt changes
in angular position of the cells. While hopping appears to occur
at regular intervals, the sizes of the hops vary in a complex manner.
Visualizations emphasize the relative position of hopping cells
during motions.
Rotating Modes: Rotating cells arise from traveling wave solutions
of the underlying system. The visualizations
highlight changes cell shape during rotation.
Ratcheting Modes: Ratcheting modes are characterized by sudden
changes in angular position of an entire ring of cells. Visualizations
highlight the relative motion of the rings.
Java Animations of Ratcheting
Interactive Visualizations
For technical details on the methods used to develop these visual
models see:
Using Image Processing
and Computer Animation to Analyze Spatial and Temporal Dynamics in
a Pattern-Forming System.