Asymmetric spatiotemporal patterns of reduction waves in the Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction

Spatiotemporal patterns with various symmetries are observed on reduction waves in a one-dimensional gel system coupled with the Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction. It is found that the symmetry of the pattern depends on the symmetry of the unit pattern making up the entire pattern. The symmetry of the unit pattern is determined by the difference in speed between the reduction fronts propagating in the opposite directions. When the unit pattern is asymmetric. self-replication of the reduction pulse wave occurs asymmetrically. Furthermore, it is found that an irregular spatiotemporal pattern appears in the transition between symmetric and asymmetric patterns.