Using weak impulses to suppress traveling waves in excitable media

Here we propose mechanisms for suppressing non-steady-state motions-propaga ting pulses, spiral waves, spiral-wave chaos-in excitable media. Our approa ch is based on two points: (1) excitable media are multistable; and (2) tra veling waves in excitable media can be separated into fast and slow motions , which can be considered independently. We show that weak impulses can be used to change the values of the slow variable at the front and back of a t raveling wave, which leads to wave front and wave back velocities that are different: from each other. This effect can destabilize the traveling wave, resulting in a transition to the rest state. [S1063-651X(99)00206-8].