A model for jumping and bubble waves in the Belousov-Zhabotinsky-aerosol OT system

We develop a four-variable model, based on the classic Field-Kores-Noyes mechanism for the oscillatory Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction, that describes recently discovered jumping waves and bubble waves in the BZ reaction in aerosol OT microemulsion and provides insight into their origins. Contrary to suggestions based on previous models, it appears that these phenomena can arise from interaction between a Turing instability and either excitability or a Hopf instability of the steady state, rather than requiring a wave instability. The model should be useful for studying other patterns in BZ microemulsions as well as the behavior of systems of BZ microdroplets coupled through bromine diffusion. (C) 2009 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3231488]