Modal decomposition of hopping states in cellular flames

We use Karhunen-Loeve (KL) decomposition of video images from an experiment to analyze a spatiotemporal dynamic state, unique to cellular flames, referred to as a "hopping state." Ordered states of cellular flames on a circular burner consist of one or two concentric rings of luminous cells. The hopping states correspond to the motions of individual cells in a ring sequentially executing abrupt changes in their angular position, while the other cells in the ring remain symmetric and at rest. KL decomposition separates the spatial and temporal characteristics of the hopping motion. The underlying symmetries of the experiment allow us to deduce a set of normal form equations that describe the formation of these states. We find that they result from secondary bifurcations connecting two primary branches of traveling waves. The solutions corresponding to hopping states exist as mixed-mode solutions away from the secondary bifurcations. (c) 1999 American Institute of Physics.