GENERAL-PROPERTIES OF THE ELECTRIC-FIELD-INDUCED VORTEX DRIFT IN EXCITABLE MEDIA

The drift of vortices induced by an applied constant electric field is explained by theoretical results obtained from general reaction-diffu sion equations. It is shown that the existence of a component of the d rift velocity perpendicular to the direction of the external field nat urally follows from these equations. General properties are obtained t hat show the regularity of this phenomenon, independently on the concr ete form of the equations. These results confirm the numerical simulat ions and the experiments performed with an Oregonator model and the Be lousov-Zhabotinsky reaction, respectively.