STUDY OF SPATIAL PATTERN-FORMATION DURING THE NO-2(H)RH(111) REACTIONBY MEANS OF MATHEMATICAL-MODELING/

Recent investigations with the photoemission electron microscope showe d the formation of spatial patterns (target patterns, spiral waves, di sordered patterns) during the NO+H-2 reaction over a Rh(111) single cr ystal surface. A five-variable mathematical model of the reaction-diff usion type has been developed to describe the experimental observation s. A simplified version of this model was originally designed to expla in the complex temporal behavior (e.g., oscillatory) found for the NOH-2 reaction on Rh(111). The simulation results successfully reproduce the main experimental findings and explain the underlying reasons for spatial pattern formation. In addition, the numerical studies predict a variety of self-organization phenomena which should be experimental ly verified, (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.