Synchronization in reaction-diffusion systems with multiple pacemakers

Abstract

Spatially extended oscillatory systems can be entrained by pacemakers, regions that oscillate with a higher frequency than the rest of the medium. Entrainment happens through waves originating at a pacemaker. Typically, biological and chemical media can contain multiple pacemaker regions, which compete with each other. In this paper, we perform a detailed numerical analysis of how wave propagation and synchronization of the medium depend on the properties of these pacemakers. We discuss the influence of the size and intrinsic frequency of pacemakers on the synchronization properties. We also study a system in which the pacemakers are embedded in a medium without any local dynamics. In this case, synchronization occurs if the coupling determined by the distance and diffusion is strong enough. The transition to synchronization is reminiscent of systems of discrete coupled oscillators.