arXiv · 1701.08729
Front interaction induces excitable behavior
Abstract
Spatially extended systems can support local transient excitations in which just a part of the system is excited. The mechanisms reported so far are local excitability and excitation of a localized structure. Here we introduce an alternative mechanism based on the coexistence of two homogeneous stable states and spatial coupling. We show the existence of a threshold for perturbations of the homogeneous state. Sub-threshold perturbations decay exponentially. Super-threshold perturbations induce the emergence of a long-lived structure formed by two back to back fronts that join the two homogeneous states. While in typical excitability the trajectory follows the remnants of a limit cycle, here reinjection is provided by front interaction, such that fronts slowly approach each other until eventually annihilating. This front-mediated mechanism shows that extended systems with no oscillatory regimes can display excitability.
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P. Parra-Rivas, M. A. Matias, P. Colet, L. Gelens, D. Walgraef, D. Gomila. 2017-01-30. Front interaction induces excitable behavior. https://doi.org/10.1103/physreve.95.020201
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