THE INITIATION AND PROPAGATION OF TRAVELING WAVES ON MEMBRANE INTERFACES IN THE BELOUSOV-ZHABOTINSKII REACTION

Travelling reaction-diffusion waves are considered in a simplified model of the Belousov-Zhabotinskii reaction, described mathematically by the two-variable Oregonator. A one-dimensional problem consisting of two regions is considered. Region I (effectively the boundary at x' = 0) acts as a reservoir with a fixed concentration of the autocatalytic species (hypobromous acid), and provides constant input of this species into region II. Region II (the reaction zone 0 < x' < infinity) allows diffusion of the autocatalyst while the catalytic species Ce(IV) is assumed immobilized on a supporting matrix. The form of the ensuing travelling wavefront and the behaviour in the region behind the front as it propagates into the region of increasing x', is considered. By examining the large time behaviour it is shown that the propagating front travels with its minimum possible wave speed. Both single travelling waves and periodic wave trains are observed.