Light induced annihilation and shift of spiral waves

The light-induced collapse of a pair of spiral waves was studied in a chemically active medium based on the photosensitive Ru(bpy)(3)-catalyzed Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction. Spiral waves annihilate only if the light intensity is increased in proper phase relative to the spiral waves' rotation. Otherwise, the distance between spiral wave cores increases and the pair survives. Computer simulations reveal the mechanism which forces the spiral waves to collide and annihilate. It is based on the shift of a single spiral wave upon an instantaneous decrease of excitability of the medium. (c) 1996 American Institute of Physics.