The structural variety of chemical spike-electric field interactions

The effect of an imposed field on chemical spikes propagation in a reaction diffusion medium is investigated. A scaling model developed earlier is adopted wherein the electric field term is added. The system of equation is solved numerically for a given set of model parameters, varying either one of two key parameters: a rate coefficient q and a field factor μ. Over different domains of the field factor μ (at fixed q), one or three “electro-spike” solutionsare obtained. The spike velocity and thickness are studied as the parameters q and μ are varied. The various wave profiles are plotted. Using a linear stability analysis, the electro-spikes are shown to be stable. Concluding reflections are made in connection with the observed spike propagation in cardiac fibers.