Experimental Features of Self-Organization in Traffic Flow

Abstract

Features of the ``stop-and-go'' phenomenon are found. First, the local phase transition ``free flow $\ensuremath{\rightarrow}$ synchronized flow'' is realized. Then the ``pinch effect'' in synchronized flow occurs. In the pinch region a complex sequence of narrow jams is self-formed. The following transformation of the narrow jams into wide jams determines a scale in distances between stop-and-go patterns.