Mechanism of spiral waves initiation in active media, connected with critical curvature phenomenon
Panfilov, A.V.; Pertsov, A.M.
Biofizika 27(5): 886-889
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0006-3029 PMID: 7138941 Document Number: 190779
By use of a digital computer to study a dimeric active medium described by Fitzhugh Nagumo equations, a new mechanism of spiral waves initiation was observed. Apparently, when the wave rounds the barrier where Neuman boundary conditions are set (.vdelta. E/.vdelta.n = 0) the wave separates from the border and the breakage of the front takes place; then it develops into a spiral. The effect is observed when the curvature of breakage is close to the critical one for the given medium. The results obtained may be of interest for explaining the mechanism of initiation of spiral waves in the damaged regions of the myocardial tissues.