BURRIDGE-KNOPOFF MODELS AS ELASTIC EXCITABLE MEDIA

We construct a model of an excitable medium with elastic rather than t he usual diffusive coupling. We explore the dynamics of elastic excita ble media, which we find to be dominated by low dimensional structures , including global oscillations, period-doubled pacemakers, and propag ating fronts. We suggest that examples of elastic excitable media are to be found in such diverse physical systems as Burridge-Knopoff model s of frictional sliding, electronic transmission lines, and active opt ical waveguides.