title: Synchronization in flickering of three-coupled candle flames.
abstract: When two or more candle flames are fused by approaching them together, the resulting large flame often exhibits flickering, i.e., prolonged high-frequency oscillation in its size and luminance. In the present work, we investigate the collective behaviour of three-coupled candle flame oscillators in a triangular arrangement. The system showed four distinct types of syncronised modes as a consequence of spontaneous symmetry breaking. The modes obtained include the in-phase mode, the partial in-phase mode, the rotation mode, and an anomalous one called the "death" mode that causes a sudden stop of the flame oscillation followed by self-sustained stable combustion. We also clarified the correlation between the inter-flame distance and the frequency with which the modes occur.
authors: Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Yamanashi, 4-4-37 Takeda, Kofu, Yamanashi 400-8510 Japan.
authors: Keiko
authors: K
authors: Okamoto
authors: Faculty of Education, University of Yamanashi, 4-4-37 Takeda, Kofu, Yamanashi 400-8510 Japan.
authors: Akifumi
authors: A
authors: Kijima
authors: Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo. 4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8505 Japan.
authors: Yoshitaka
authors: Y
authors: Umeno
authors: Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Yamanashi, 4-4-37 Takeda, Kofu, Yamanashi 400-8510 Japan.
authors: Hiroyuki
authors: H
authors: Shima