title: Analytical approach to initiation of propagating fronts.
abstract: We consider the problem of initiation of a propagating wave in a one-dimensional bistable or excitable fiber. In the Zeldovich-Frank-Kamenetskii equation, also known as the Nagumo equation and Schlögl model, the key role is played by the "critical nucleus" solution whose stable manifold is the threshold surface separating initial conditions leading to the initiation of propagation and decay. An approximation of this manifold by its tangent linear space yields an analytical criterion of initiation which is in good agreement with direct numerical simulations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZL, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Idris
authors.forename: V N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Biktashev
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D007700:Kinetics; D008954:Models, Biological; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D013816:Thermodynamics