We investigate the asymptotic relaxation of so-called pulled fronts propagating into an unstable state. The ``leading edge representation'' of the equation of motion reveals the universal nature of their propagation mechanism and allows us to generalize the universal algebraic velocity relaxation of uniformly translating fronts to fronts, that generate periodic or even chaotic states. Such fronts in addition exhibit a universal algebraic phase relaxation. We numerically verify our analytical predictions for the Swift-Hohenberg and the Complex Ginzburg-Landau equation.

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CWI
Modelling, Analysis and Simulation [MAS]
Computational Dynamics

Storm, C., Spruijt, W., Ebert, U., & van Saarloos, W. (2000). Universal algebraic relaxation of velocity and phase in 'pulled' fronts generating periodic or chaotic states. Modelling, Analysis and Simulation [MAS]. CWI.