title: Intrinsic inhomogeneities and the coexistence of spirals with different periods of rotation.
abstract: We propose a mechanism by which wave fronts emanating from a spiral may break far from the spiral core due to intrinsic spatial inhomogeneities. A series of computer simulations are presented to demonstrate how coupling domains, which on their own would not cause breakup, may cause a single spiral to break into many spirals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA 17837, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tranquillo
authors.forename: Meghan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Howes
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000503:physiopathology; D002468:Cell Physiological Phenomena; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004058:Diffusion; D004699:Endocardium / Q000502:physiology; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D017711:Nonlinear Dynamics; D010496:Pericardium / Q000502:physiology; D012399:Rotation; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000503:physiopathology