V-waves of excitation

In this paper we communicate recent developments in theory, experiment, and computer simulations of V-shaped waves in excitable media. The waves appea r as the result of oblique collisions of two plane waves, and constitute a one-parametric family of V-like patterns distinguishable by the angle of co llision. The shape and position of V-patterns are stable with respect to lo calized perturbations of the front line and to some global perturbations of the medium. V-waves survive collisions with target patterns and spirals. V -patterns are a convenient tool for experimental study of the velocity-curv ature dependence for wave fronts-one of the major pattern-forming factors i n excitable media. V-waves are an important building block for constructing wave patterns in layered excitable media. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. A ll rights reserved.