Dynamics and wrinkling of radially propagating fronts inferred from scaling laws in channel geometries

Flame propagation is used as a prototypical example of expanding fronts that wrinkle without limit in radial geometries but reach a simple shape in channel geometry. We show that the relevant scaling laws that govern the radial growth can be inferred once the simpler channel geometry is understood in detail. In radial geometries (in contrast to channel geometries) the effect of external noise is crucial in accelerating and wrinkling the fronts. Nevertheless, once the interrelations between system size, velocity of propagation, and noise level are understood in channel geometry, the scaling laws for radial growth follow.