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.