Oscillation and Synchronization in the Combustion of Candles

We investigate a simple experimental system using candles; stable combustion is seen when a single candle burns, while oscillatory combustion is seen when three candles burn together. If we consider a set of three candles as a component oscillator, two oscillators, that is, two sets of three candles...

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Published inThe journal of physical chemistry. A, Molecules, spectroscopy, kinetics, environment, & general theory Vol. 113; no. 29; pp. 8164 - 8168
Main Authors Kitahata, Hiroyuki, Taguchi, Junji, Nagayama, Masaharu, Sakurai, Tatsunari, Ikura, Yumihiko, Osa, Atsushi, Sumino, Yutaka, Tanaka, Masanobu, Yokoyama, Etsuro, Miike, Hidetoshi
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States American Chemical Society 23.07.2009
Subjects
A: Dynamics, Clusters, Excited States
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Summary:We investigate a simple experimental system using candles; stable combustion is seen when a single candle burns, while oscillatory combustion is seen when three candles burn together. If we consider a set of three candles as a component oscillator, two oscillators, that is, two sets of three candles, can couple with each other, resulting in both in-phase and antiphase synchronization depending on the distance between the two sets. The mathematical model indicates that the oscillatory combustion in a set of three candles is induced by a lack of oxygen around the burning point. Furthermore, we suggest that thermal radiation may be an essential factor of the synchronization.
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ISSN:1089-5639
1520-5215
DOI:10.1021/jp901487e