Weakly nonlinear states as propagating fronts in convecting binary mixtures

We present a picture of the weakly nonlinear time-dependent (blinking) traveling-wave state in the convection of binary mixtures as a propagating, spatially confined solution of coupled Landau-Ginzburg equations. Quantitative agreement with the measured slow oscillation frequency is found. In addition, a number of experimental observations regarding the blinking and confined states can be understood in this picture.