Control of Spiral Waves in Reaction-Diffusion Systems Using Response Function

Abstract

This thesis is motivated by the desire to understand spiral wave dynamics in reaction- diffusion systems with particular focus on the FitzHugh-Nagumo model. We attempt to control the behaviour of spiral waves using controller dynamics. Response functions characterise the behaviour of spiral waves under perturbations, and so it is natural to use these for control purposes. In this project, we consider perturbations of the FitzHugh-Nagumo equation using control functions with different support. We calculate the response functions using the adjoint linear system of the FitzHugh-Nagumo equation with 1D controller dynamics and also characterise the control functions with the smallest support function which can be used to control the system in periodic and meander regimes. We find the minimum size of the support function that the radius is comparable to the region of the non zero response function.