  We study computationally and experimentally the propagation of chemical
pulses in complex geometries.The reaction of interest, CO oxidation, takes
place on single crystal Pt(110) surfaces that are microlithographically
patterned; they are also addressable through a focused laser beam, manipulated
through galvanometer mirrors, capable of locally altering the crystal
temperature and thus affecting pulse propagation. We focus on sudden changes in
the domain shape (corners in a Y-junction geometry) that can affect the pulse
dynamics; we also show how brief, localized temperature perturbations can be
used to control reactive pulse propagation.The computational results are
corroborated through experimental studies in which the pulses are visualized
using Reflection Anisotropy Microscopy.
