No Arabic abstract
Three-dimensional excitable systems can selforganize vortex patterns that rotate around one-dimensional phase singularities called filaments. In experiments with the Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction and numerical simulations, we pin these scroll waves to moving heterogeneities and demonstrate the controlled repositioning of their rotation centers. If the pinning site extends only along a portion of the filament, the phase singularity is stretched out along the trajectory of the heterogeneity which effectively writes the singularity into the system. Its trailing end point follows the heterogeneity with a lower velocity. This velocity, its dependence on the placement of the anchor, and the shape of the filament are explained by a curvature flow model.
Recent papers that have studied variants of the Peyrard-Bishop model for DNA, have taken into account the long range interaction due to the dipole moments of the hydrogen bonds between base pairs. In these models the helicity of the double strand is not considered. In this particular paper we have performed an analysis of the influence of the helicity on the properties of static and moving breathers in a Klein--Gordon chain with dipole-dipole interaction. It has been found that the helicity enlarges the range of existence and stability of static breathers, although this effect is small for a typical helical structure of DNA. However the effect of the orientation of the dipole moments is considerably higher with transcendental consequences for the existence of mobile breathers.
Three-dimensional excitable systems can create nonlinear scroll waves that rotate around one-dimensional phase singularities. Recent theoretical work predicts that these filaments drift along step-like height variations. Here we test this prediction using experiments with thin layers of the Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction. We observe that over short distances scroll waves are attracted towards the step and then rapidly commence a steady drift along the step line. The translating filaments always reside in the shallow subsystem and terminate on the step plateau near the edge. Accordingly filaments in the deep subsystem initially collide with and shorten at the step wall. The drift speeds obey the predicted proportional dependence on the logarithm of the height ratio and the direction depends on the vortex chirality. We also observe drift along the perimeter of rectangular plateaus and find that the filaments perform sharp turns at the corners. In addition, we investigate rectangular troughs for which vortices of equal chirality can drift in different directions. The latter two effects are reproduced in numerical simulations with the Barkley model. The simulations show that narrow troughs instigate scroll wave encounters that induce repulsive interaction and symmetry breaking. Similar phenomena could exist in the geometrical complicated ventricles of the human heart where reentrant vortex waves cause tachycardia and fibrillation.
We introduce the simplest one-dimensional nonlinear model with the parity-time (PT) symmetry, which makes it possible to find exact analytical solutions for localized modes (solitons). The PT-symmetric element is represented by a point-like (delta-functional) gain-loss dipole {delta}^{prime}(x), combined with the usual attractive potential {delta}(x). The nonlinearity is represented by self-focusing (SF) or self-defocusing (SDF) Kerr terms, both spatially uniform and localized ones. The system can be implemented in planar optical waveguides. For the sake of comparison, also introduced is a model with separated {delta}-functional gain and loss, embedded into the linear medium and combined with the {delta}-localized Kerr nonlinearity and attractive potential. Full analytical solutions for pinned modes are found in both models. The exact solutions are compared with numerical counterparts, which are obtained in the gain-loss-dipole model with the {delta}^{prime}- and {delta}- functions replaced by their Lorentzian regularization. With the increase of the dipoles strength, {gamma}, the single-peak shape of the numerically found mode, supported by the uniform SF nonlinearity, transforms into a double-peak one. This transition coincides with the onset of the escape instability of the pinned soliton. In the case of the SDF uniform nonlinearity, the pinned modes are stable, keeping the single-peak shape.
We describe the dynamic response of a two-dimensional hexagonal packing of uncompressed stainless steel spheres excited by localized impulsive loadings. After the initial impact strikes the system, a characteristic wave structure emerges and continuously decays as it propagates through the lattice. Using an extension of the binary collision approximation (BCA) for one-dimensional chains, we predict its decay rate, which compares well with numerical simulations and experimental data. While the hexagonal lattice does not support constant speed traveling waves, we provide scaling relations that characterize the power law decay of the wave velocity. Lastly, we discuss the effects of weak disorder on the directional amplitude decay rates.
While free scroll rings are non-stationary objects that either grow or contract with time, spatial confinement can have a large impact on their evolution reaching from significant lifetime extension [J. F. Totz , H. Engel, and O. Steinbock, New J. Phys. 17, 093043 (2015)] up to formation of stable stationary and breathing pacemakers [A. Azhand, J. F. Totz, and H. Engel, Europhys. Lett. 108, 10004 (2014)]. Here, we explore the parameter range in which the interaction between an axis-symmetric scroll ring and a confining planar no-flux boundary can be studied experimentally in transparent gel layers supporting chemical wave propagation in the photosensitive variant of the Belousov-Zhabotinsky medium. Based on full three-dimensional simulations of the underlying modified complete Oregonator model for experimentally realistic parameters, we determine the conditions for successful initiation of scroll rings in a phase diagram spanned by the layer thickness and the applied light intensity. Furthermore, we discuss whether the illumination-induced excitability gradient due to Lambert-Beers law as well as a possible inclination of the filament plane with respect to the no-flux boundary can destabilize the scroll ring.