Control of Turing Structures by Periodic Illumination

Abstract

Spatially uniform illumination of Turing structures in the chlorine dioxide-iodine-malonic acid reaction-diffusion system affects the pattern characteristics and, at larger intensities, eliminates them. Periodic illumination is more effective than constant illumination with the same average light intensity. We observe the fastest suppression of pattern at a frequency of illumination equal to the frequency of autonomous oscillations in the corresponding well-stirred system. Numerical simulations demonstrate a similar resonant behavior of periodically illuminated Turing structures.