The effect of reversible binding of the autocatalyst on the lateral instability of reaction fronts

Numerical studies of lateral instability have been carried out on reaction fronts arising in a cubic autocatalytic system with a reversible removal of the autocatalyst introduced as a fast equilibrium producing an immobile complex. We have shown that even a small amount of complexing agent substantially decreases the critical ratio of diffusion coefficients; and since no abrupt extinction of front property exists, lateral instability may even occur in systems where the autocatalyst diffuses faster than the reactant.