Mathematical Modeling and Analysis
This is a study of front dynamics in reaction diffusion systems near Nonequilibrium Ising-Bloch bifurcations. We find that the relation between front velocity and perturbative factors, such as external fields and curvature, is typically multivalued. This unusual form allows small perturbations to induce dynamic transitions between counter-propagating fronts and nucleate spiral vortices. We use these findings to propose explanations for two experimental observations: Spiral breakup driven by convection, and spot splitting.