Quasipatterns in parametrically forced systems

Abstract

We examine two mechanisms that have been put forward to explain the selection of quasipatterns in single and multi-frequency forced Faraday wave experiments. Both mechanisms can be used to generate stable quasipatterns in a parametrically forced partial differential equation that shares some characteristics of the Faraday wave experiment. One mechanism, which is robust and works with single-frequency forcing, does not select a specific quasipattern: we find, for two different forcing strengths, a 12-fold quasipattern and the first known example of a spontaneously formed 14-fold quasipattern. The second mechanism, which requires more delicate tuning, can be used to select particular angles between wavevectors in the quasipattern.