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Diffusively Coupled Chemical Oscillators in a Microfluidic Assembly

Droplets containing BZ reactants are separated by octane in five glass capillaries in this movie. Droplets are coupled to their immediate neighbors (in the horizontal direction only) diffusively via bromine, an inhibitory specie produced in the reaction. Anti-phase synchronization shown here one of the stable modes. Internal diameter of the glass capillaries shown is 150 micrometers. 

A Turing pattern emerges near the oscillatory/excitable bifurcation point. Here, alternating reduced (dark) and oxidized (bright) stationary droplets are shown. More complex patterns are also possible. 

Although the system has a large basin of attraction for anti-phase synchronization, carefully chosen initial conditions can also produce in-phase synchronization. 

M. Toiya, V. K. Vanag and I. R. Epstein, “Diffusively Coupled Chemical Oscillators in a Microfluidic Assembly”, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 47, 7753-7755 (2008).