Nonequilibrium dynamics tend to produce a recurring "alphabet" of shapes across different scales:
Patterns typically arise when a "control parameter" (like temperature or concentration) reaches a critical threshold. At this point, the uniform state becomes unstable. This is known as a . pattern formation and dynamics in nonequilibrium systems pdf
Out-of-equilibrium quantum fluids (exciton-polariton condensates, cold atoms) exhibit dissipative solitons and vortex lattices. Search for "nonequilibrium quantum pattern formation" on arXiv. pattern formation and dynamics in nonequilibrium systems pdf