Critical fronts in initiation of excitation waves

Abstract

We consider the problem of initiation of propagating wave in a one-dimensional excitable fiber. In the FitzHugh-Nagumo theory, the key role is played by ``critical nucleus'' and ``critical pulse'' solutions whose (center-)stable manifold is the threshold surface separating initial conditions leading to propagation and those leading to decay. We present evidence that in cardiac excitation models, this role is played by ``critical front'' solutions.