Nucleation of oscillons

Abstract

This study concerns the birth of oscillons, the subharmonic localized excitations observed in vibrated sand. To this end, we have constructed a dynamical model based on nearest pattern interaction approximation. The model admits an oscillon solution and features its nucleation process. It is argued here that oscillons are created through nucleation rather than growing from linearly unstable modes. The physical implication of the nucleation in pattern formation is discussed briefly. [S1063-651X(99)09601-4].