Optimal Stretching in Advection-Reaction-Diffusion Systems

Thomas D. Nevins and Douglas H. Kelley
Phys. Rev. Lett. 117, 164502 – Published 14 October 2016

Abstract

We investigate growth of the excitable Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction in chaotic, time-varying flows. In slow flows, reacted regions tend to lie near vortex edges, whereas fast flows restrict reacted regions to vortex cores. We show that reacted regions travel toward vortex centers faster as flow speed increases, but nonreactive scalars do not. For either slow or fast flows, reaction is promoted by the same optimal range of the local advective stretching, but stronger stretching causes reaction blowout and can hinder reaction from spreading. We hypothesize that optimal stretching and blowout occur in many advection-diffusion-reaction systems, perhaps creating ecological niches for phytoplankton in the ocean.

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  • Received 27 April 2016

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.117.164502

© 2016 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Interdisciplinary PhysicsFluid DynamicsNonlinear Dynamics

Authors & Affiliations

Thomas D. Nevins1,* and Douglas H. Kelley2,†

  • 1Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA
  • 2Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA

  • *tnevins@ur.rochester.edu
  • d.h.kelley@rochester.edu

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Issue

Vol. 117, Iss. 16 — 14 October 2016

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