Chemical wires: reaction-diffusion waves as analogues of electron drift

Abstract We use chemical reaction-diffusion waves in narrow channels to model electron drift in wires. By varying the initial conditions of an excitable Belousov–Zhabotinsky (BZ) medium, we achieve careful, quantitative control of BZ wave speeds in the range of electron drift speeds in conductors, a few millimeters per minute. We compare the speeds of the easily observable BZ waves and their computer simulations with theoretical electron drift speeds to explore the effects of wire radius, electric current, and material composition. Such BZ waves are compelling visual analogues of electron drift.