Various oscillatory regimes and bifurcations in a dynamic chemical system at an interface

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Abstract
Oscillatory phenomena in an oil-water interface and in a salt-water system have been studied in relation to excitability in biomembranes. A rhythmic, sustained electrical oscillation was observed for a water-oil-water liquid membrane, containing sodium oleate, a soap, in one of the aqueous phases. Oscillations were induced by the transfer of the oleate anion and other chemicals through the oil-water interface. The oscillatory flow of salt solution was also observed when the vessel of salt solution was connected with a narrow tube or pore to the vessel of pure-water situated below the salt solution. A rhythmic change of the electrical potential, associated with the periodic flow, was generated. These experimental systems are considered as nonlinear oscillators and are discussed using a theory based on nonlinear differential equations.