Analytical small-time asymptotic properties of A+B→C fronts

The small-time asymptotic properties of the reaction front formed by a reaction A+B→C coupled to diffusion are considered. Reactants A and B are initially separately dissolved in two identical solvents. The solvents are brought into contact and the reactants meet through diffusion. The small-time asymptotic position of the center of mass of the reaction rate is obtained analytically. When one of the reactants diffuses much faster than the other reactant then the position of the local maximum in the reaction rate travels on a length scale related to the diffusion coefficient of the slowest diffusing reactant while the first moment of the reaction rate and the width of the reaction front are on a length scale related to the diffusion coefficient of the fastest diffusing reactant. If the sum of the initial reactant concentrations is fixed, then the fastest reaction rate is obtained when equal concentrations are used. The first-order solutions are analytically obtained, however, each solution involves an integral which requires numerical evaluation. Various small-time asymptotic analytical reaction front properties are obtained. In particular, one finds that the position of the center of mass of the product concentration distribution is initially located at three quarters of the position of the center of mass of the reaction rate. © 2009 The American Physical Society.SCOPUS: ar.j