In this Letter, we reveal a new dynamical phenomenon, called “spatiotemporal resonance,” which is expected to take place in a broad range of viscous, periodically forced, open systems. The observation originates from a numerical and theoretical analysis of a micromixer, and is supported by preliminary experimental observations. The theoretical model nicely matches the numerical results, which again is supported by the experiment. Because of the general nature of the phenomenon, this phenomenon is not limited to microsystems. Because of the resonances, a slight tuning of the control parameters makes the mixer enhance the mixing, or suppress it, enhancing interfacial diffusion instead.

• Received 5 May 2003

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.92.038301