Pattern selection is discussed in regard to a situation where a stable, nonuniform state of a nonlinear dissipative system propagates into an initially unstable, homogeneous region. The velocity of the propagating front and the wavelength of the pattern formed behind the front are determined by a marginal-stability criterion. The special system studied here has a Lyapunov functional, but the periodic state which propagates is not the one which minimizes the functional.

• Received 6 December 1982

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.50.383