Dynamics of spiral waves driven by a dichotomous periodic signal

Abstract

We study the effects of a dichotomous periodic force on meandering and rigidly rotating spiral waves. For a meandering state, the periodic forcing induces more modulating frequencies according to the rules of frequency-locked relations and linear combinations. It can also generate some unique closed tip orbits. On the modulating period T-axis, there exist all kinds of resonant entrainment bands. Arnold tongues exist in the period-amplitude space. The width of entrainment bands is affected by the symmetry of positive and negative parts in each signal unit. In addition, appropriate choices of T-value can be used to eliminate spiral waves. For a rigidly rotating state, the periodic forcing can induce a transition toward meandering spiral waves via generating a transitive bidirectional spiral wave. It is very interesting that, after the transition, the meandering spiral wave has the same primary rotating period as the free meandering states.