Amplitude equations from spatiotemporal binary-fluid convection data

We apply a recently developed method for the analysis of spatiotemporal dat a to extract the dynamical equations that describe an experiment on traveli ng-wave convection in a binary fluid. The technique is based on nonlinear r egression analysis and allows the nonparametric estimation of the functions involved in these equations. We find that the system is well described by a pair of coupled complex Ginzburg-Landau equations, and the coefficient of the term that describes the interaction between the two oppositely propaga ting waves can be determined.