Dynamic transitions through scattors in dissipative systems

Scattering of particle-like patterns in dissipative systems is studied, especially we focus on the issue how the input-output relation is controlled at a head-on collision where traveling pulses or spots interact strongly. It remains an open problem due to the large deformation of patterns at a colliding point. We found that a special type of unstable steady or time-periodic solutions called scattors and their stable and unstable manifolds direct the traffic flow of orbits. Such scattors are in general highly unstable even in the one-dimensional case which causes a variety of input-output relations through the scattering process. We illustrate the ubiquity of scattors by using the complex Ginzburg-Landau equation, the Gray-Scott model, and a three-component reaction diffusion model arising in gas-discharge phenomena.