Driven front propagation in 1D spatially periodic media.
We study front propagation in one-dimensional spatially periodic media. Based on an optical feedback with a spatially amplitude modulated beam, we set up a one-dimensional forced experiment in a nematic liquid crystal cell. By changing the forcing parameters, the front exhibits a pinning effect and oscillatory motion, which are confirmed by numerical simulations for the average liquid crystal tilt angle. A spatially forced dissipative varphi;{4} model, derived at the onset of bistability, accounts qualitatively for the observed dynamics.
INLN, Université de Nice Sophia-Antipolis, CNRS, 06560 Valbonne, France.
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Elías
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