Instabilities in smooth 2D and 3D isothermal flames (Q1364976)

Chemical reactions exhibiting autocatalytic feedback support constant-form, constant-velocity reaction-diffusion wave fronts. The dimensionless velocity \(c\) of planar fronts depends on the ratio \(\delta\) of the diffusion coefficients for the reactant \(A\) and autocatalytic species \(B\) and an approximate expression for \(c(\delta)\) for \(\delta>1\) (but \(1-\delta^{-1}\ll 1\)) is presented. The implications of this, along with previous results for \(c\) appropriate to other ranges of \(\delta\), in terms of the dependence of the actual wave velocity \(dx/dt\) as a function of the species diffusion coefficients \(D_A\) and \(D_B\) are discussed. An eikonal equation is then presented for the effect of curvature on the wave velocity for smooth circular or spherical waves.