It is shown that the dynamics of pattern selection in quasi-one-dimensional extended systems may be described as a discrete process of alteration of the number of points where an order parameter of the system vanishes. Close to the alteration moment, the system has a universal spatiotemporal behavior. The one-dimensional Swift-Hohenberg and Ginzburg-Landau equations are considered as examples. Both yield a spatiotemporal scaling with the same universal exponent.

• Received 26 January 1995

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.51.5132