From the Hamilton-Jacobi formalism, an explicit expression for the speed of wave front propagation along the backbone of comblike structures is obtained. This expression, through the waiting-time distribution function, takes into account the number of sites and their distribution in the secondary branches. Our theoretical results are supported by numerical simulations of the reaction random-walk process on the structure. Finally, a more complex situation such as the Peano basin structure is also considered, both theoretically and numerically, exhibiting a good agreement too.

• Received 1 February 2005

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.71.051104