Structure and dynamics of modulated traveling waves in cellular flames (Q1342183)

We describe the formation and evolution of spatial and temporal patterns in cylindrical premixed flames. We consider the cellular regime with the Lewis number \(\text{Le}<1\). A transition from stationary, axisymmetric flames to stationary cellular flames is predicted analytically if Le is decreased below a critical value. We present the results of numerical computations to show that as Le is further decreased, with all other parameters fixed, traveling waves (TWs) along the flame front arise via an infinite-period bifurcation which breaks the reflection symmetry of the cellular array. We also observe the apparently chaotic temporal behavior of a disordered cellular pattern involving creation and annihilation of cells. We analytically describe the stability of the TW solution near its onset using suitable phase-amplitude equations.