Wave propagation in heterogeneous bistable and excitable media

Two examples for the propagation of traveling waves in spatially non-uniform media are studied: (a) bistable media with periodically varying excitation threshold and (b) bistable and excitable media with randomly distributed diffusion coefficient and excitation properties. In case (a), we have applied two different singular perturbation techniques, namely averaging (first and second order) and a projection method, to calculate the averaged front velocity as a function of the spatial period L of the heterogeneity for the Schlögl model. Our analysis reveals a velocity overshoot for small values of L and propagation failure for large values of L. The analytical predictions are in good agreement with results of direct numerical simulations. For case (b), effective medium properties are derived by a self-consistent homogenization approach. In particular, the resulting velocities found by direct numerical simulations of the random medium are reproduced well as long as the diffusion lengths in the medium are larger than the heterogeneity scale. Simulations reveal also that complex irregular dynamics can be triggered by heterogeneities.     

On propagation failure in one- and two-dimensional excitable media

We present a nonperturbative technique to study pulse dynamics in excitable media. The method is used to study propagation failure in one-dimensional and two-dimensional excitable media. In one-dimensional media we describe the behavior of pulses and wave trains near the saddle node bifurcation, where propagation fails. The generalization of our method to two dimensions captures the point where a broken front (or finger) starts to retract. We obtain approximate expressions for the pulse shape, pulse velocity, and scaling behavior. The results are compared with numerical simulations and show good agreement.     

Slow light pulse propagation in dispersive media

We present a theoretical and numerical analysis of pulse propagation in a semiconductor photonic crystal waveguide with embedded quantum dots in a regime where the pulse is subjected to both waveguide and material dispersion. The group index and the transmission are investigated by finite-difference-time-domain Maxwell–Bloch simulations and compared to analytic results. For long pulses the group index (transmission) for the combined system is significantly enhanced (reduced) relative to slow light based on purely material or waveguide dispersion. Shorter pulses are strongly distorted and depending on parameters broadening or break-up of the pulse may be observed. The transition from linear to nonlinear pulse propagation is quantified in terms of the spectral width of the pulse. To cite this article: T.R. Nielsen et al., C. R. Physique 10 (2009).     

Coherent pulse propagation through resonant media

Hyperfine Interactions - Resonant pulse propagation (RPP) is reviewed with special emphasis on the propagation of synchrotron radiation (SR) pulses through nuclear single-resonance media. The most...     

Chirped optical pulse propagation in saturating nonlinear media

Using a variational method, we have investigated the propagation characteristics of a chirped optical pulse in anomalously dispersive media possessing saturating nonlinearity. For the special case of uniform loss less media, the dynamics of the temporal width of the pulse is shown to be equivalent to an oscillator of unit mass which is executing its motion under some effective potential well. The potential is examined and four different types of behavior of the pulse width are noticed. The role of saturation parameter and the initial chirp in determining the propagation characteristics have been examined. It is found that, both high value of chirp and saturation are detrimental to stable pulse propagation. Particularly, the effect of chirp becomes severe with the increase in the value of saturation. We have shown that incorporation of saturation in the nonlinearity leads to the existence of bistable soliton. For the case of a lossy medium, net broadening of width takes place over many cycles of oscillation. The net broadening decreases with the increase in the value of saturation.     

Spatio-temporal pulse propagation in nonlinear dispersive optical media

We discuss state-of-art approaches to modeling of propagation of ultrashort optical pulses in one and three spatial dimensions. We operate with the analytic signal formulation for the electric field rather than using the slowly varying envelope approximation, because the latter becomes questionable for few-cycle pulses. Suitable propagation models are naturally derived in terms of unidirectional approximation.     

Distributed predictive control of spiral wave in cardiac excitable media

In this paper, we propose the distributed predictive control strategies of spiral wave in cardiac excitable media. The modified FitzHugh--Nagumo model was used to express the cardiac excitable media approximately. Based on the control-Lyapunov theory, we obtained the distributed control equation, which consists of a positive control-Lyapunov function and a positive cost function. Using the equation, we investigate two kinds of robust control strategies: the time-dependent distributed control strategy and the space-time dependent distributed control strategy. The feasibility of the strategies was demonstrated via an illustrative example, in which the spiral wave was prevented to occur, and the possibility for inducing ventricular fibrillation was eliminated. The strategies are helpful in designing various cardiac devices. Since the second strategy is more efficient and robust than the first one, and the response time in the second strategy is far less than that in the first one, the former is suitable for the quick-response control systems. In addition, our spatiotemporal control strategies, especially the second strategy, can be applied to other cardiac models, even to other reaction-diffusion systems.     

Velocity of pulse propagation in media with amplitude nonlinearity

The propagation velocity of optical wave fronts can be accelerated by the influence of gain saturation. We report systematic measurements for the specific case of Brillouin gain in optical fibers. A simplified analytic rate equation approach permits a qualitative understanding of the observations in terms of a pure amplitude nonlinearity. We point out that there is a close analogy to a mode-locked laser with gain saturation. Pursuing this analogy, we can explain why the changes in propagation velocity are hardly measurable for synchronously pumped lasers, but easily amount to several percent for amplifiers or lasers based on stimulated Brillouin scattering.     

Linear approximation in pulse propagation problems in nonlinear media

It seems obvious that the manifestation of nonlinear effects (such as shock wave and soliton formation) is possible only at comparatively high levels of nonlinearity. Nevertheless, there are well-known examples where a disturbance which is as small as one pleases ceases in time to be linear, and must be described in nonlinear terms. This, e.g., is the situation for the well-known Korteweg-de Vries (KdV) equations, which for an impulsive initial condition of definite sign has an asymptotic solution described by a set of solitons and by a rapidly oscillating wave packet. There will in fact always be at least one soliton asymptotically, no matter how small the initial pulse amplitude [1]. Another example is shock wave (triangular pulse) attenuation at large distances (or times) within the framework of the Burgers equation; the wave remains a shock wave even though its amplitude decreases to zero [1]. It is thus necessary to indicate a criterion which might be used to establish the nature of the asymptotic solution. The aim of the present note is the definition of such a criterion; that is, a relation between nonlinearity and dispersion (dissipation) in which nonlinear effects are manifested only above some threshold level.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Radiofizika, Vol. 21, No. 11, pp. 1706–1708, November, 1978.     

耦合可激发介质中螺旋波的控制研究

采用Br模型研究了三层耦合可激发介质中螺旋波的控制.相邻层之间采用双向耦合.利用加在第二层介质上的局域周期信号产生的平面波来消除螺旋波.数值模拟表明:只有当三层介质的耦合满足一定条件才可能实现螺旋波的控制,可以通过耦合互补方式实现螺旋波的控制;平面波与低频螺旋波的相互作用可以产生高频螺旋波,导致螺旋波不能被消除;存在优化的驱动宽度,过大或过小的驱动宽度需要增加第一、三层介质的耦合强度.观察到控制结果依赖控制时机的现象.研究结果可用于植入式心脏除颤器的设计.     

Resonance pacemakers in excitable media

Chemical waves are initiated in an excitable medium by resonance with local periodic forcing of the excitability. Experiments are carried out with a photosensitive Belousov-Zhabotinsky medium, in which the excitability is varied according to the intensity of the imposed illumination. Complex resonance patterns are exhibited as a function of the amplitude and frequency of the forcing. Local resonance-induced wave initiation transforms the medium globally from a quiescent excitable steady state to a periodic state of successive traveling waves.     

Nonlinear pulse propagation in periodic media with and without defects

The influence of single defects within a periodic structure on the nonlinear transmission of optical pulses through the structure is investigated numerically. A stack of alternating linear and cubically nonlinear layers of submicron thicknesses is considered. The simulations are based on a modified equation for the pulse envelope. Diffraction of the pulse has been taken into account, too. The results of simulations have been demonstrated as an essential influence of defects within the periodic structure on the nonlinear propagation of optical pulses, when the carrier frequency is chosen within the stop band of the structure with the defect.     

Vulnerability in one-dimensional excitable media

Potentially life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias can be iniated with stimuli timed to occur during the “vulnerable window (VW)”. We defined VW as the time interval between the “conditioning” and “test” stimuli following in sequence, during which the test stimulus response propagates in only one direction. We show that the VW is a generic feature of excitable media and describe the relationship between the properties of an excitable medium and the VW. We present asymptotic results that reveal the sensitivity of the VW to both the propagation velocity of the conditioning wavefront and the recovery process parameters. We also have identified a critical length of medium that must be excited in order to reveal vulnerability. Analytical results are in agreement with numerical studies.     

Adaptive control of femtosecond pulse propagation in optical fibers

Nonlinear effects present fundamental obstacles to the propagation of femtosecond pulses of detectable energy in single-mode optical fibers, inducing severe distortion even after a very short (a few meters) propagation distance. We show here that adaptive pulse shaping can overcome these limitations by synthesizing pulses that are self-correcting for higher-order nonlinear effects when they are launched in the fiber. This approach would not only affect optical communications but also yield benefits in various disciplines requiring optimized fiber-based femtosecond pulse delivery, for example, nonlinear imaging techniques such as multiphoton microscopy, material processing, and medical diagnostics.     

Periodic forcing of scroll rings and control of Winfree turbulence in excitable media

By simulations of the Barkley model, action of uniform periodic nonresonant forcing on scroll rings and wave turbulence in three-dimensional excitable media is investigated. Sufficiently strong rapid forcing converts expanding scroll rings into the collapsing ones and suppresses the Winfree turbulence caused by the negative tension of wave filaments. Slow strong forcing has an opposite effect, leading to expansion of scroll rings and induction of the turbulence. These effects are explained in the framework of the phenomenological kinematic theory of scroll waves.     

三维可激发系统中Winfree湍流态的控制

三维可激发系统中的Winfree湍流态被认为与心室纤维性颤动可能有着密切的关系.如何快速而有效地消除Winfree湍流是理论工作者非常关心的问题.文章作者发展了两种可有效地控制三维可激发系统中Winfree湍流态的方法：（1）局域的周期刺激,即通过小区域内的周期刺激所产生的激发波来消除Winfree湍流;（2）全局的时空微扰,通过对参数的时空调制来消除Wnifree湍流.     

Spatiotemporal networks in addressable excitable media

Spatiotemporal networks are studied in a photosensitive Belousov-Zhabotinsky medium that allows both local and nonlocal transmission of excitation. Local transmission occurs via propagating excitation waves, while nonlocal transmission takes place by nondiffusive jumps to destination sites linked to excited sites in the medium. Static, dynamic, and domain link networks are experimentally and computationally characterized. Transitions to synchronized behavior are exhibited with increasing link density, and power-law relations are observed for first-coverage time as a function of link probability.