抄録
When a gel undergoes an extensive swelling, a beautiful, regular pattern appears on the gel surface. At the beginning the pattern is extremely fine and has a texture similar to a frosted glass. As time goes on, the pattern units coalesce, doubling their characteristic length. When the unit size becomes comparable to the size of the gel, the pattern gradually disappears. Finally the entire gel regains a homoneneous shape. The pattern formation and evolution can be understood in terms of mechanlical instability of the swollenl layer on the gel surface induced by a large lateral compression.
