Geometry and boundary control of pattern formation and competition

This paper presents the effective control of the formation and competition of cellular patterns. Simulation and theoretical analyses are carried out for pattern formation in a confined circular domain. The Cahn–Hilliard equation is solved with the zero-flux boundary condition to describe the phase separation of binary mixtures. A wavelet-based discrete singular convolution algorithm is employed to provide high-precision numerical solutions. By extensive numerical experiments, a set of cellular ordered state patterns are generated. Theoretical analysis is carried out by using the Fourier–Bessel series. Modal decomposition shows that the pattern morphology of an ordered state pattern is dominated by a principal Fourier–Bessel mode, which has the largest Fourier–Bessel decomposition amplitude. Interesting modal competition is also observed. It is found that the formation and competition of cellular patterns are effectively controlled by the confined geometry and boundary condition. © 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.