Control of spatiotemporal chaos in catalytic CO oxidation by laser-induced pacemakers.
Control of spatiotemporal chaos is achieved in the catalytic oxidation of CO on Pt(110) by localized modification of the kinetic properties of the surface chemical reaction. In the experiment, a small temperature heterogeneity is created on the surface by a focused laser beam. This heterogeneity constitutes a pacemaker and starts to emit target waves. These waves slowly entrain the medium and suppress the spatiotemporal chaos that is present in the absence of control. We compare this experimental result with a numerical study of the Krischer-Eiswirth-Ertl model for CO oxidation on Pt(110). We confirm the experimental findings and identify regimes where complete and partial controls are possible.
Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial, Ctra de Ajalvir km. 4, 28850 Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain. stichm@inta.es
Michael
M
Stich
Christian
C
Punckt
Carsten
C
Beta
Harm Hinrich
HH
Rotermund