On the back-firing instability.

The onset of the back-firing instability is studied in a one-dimensional spatially extended and dissipative system, where propagating localized solutions become unstable. It corresponds to the emission in the tail of a solitary wave of a new wave propagating in the opposite direction. The transition is illustrated, in geometrical terms, using a model normal form equation. (c) 2004 American Institute of Physics. Copyright 2004 American Institute of Physics