On the bidomain problem with FitzHugh-Nagumo transport (Q1660101)

The, so-called, bidomain problem modelling evolution of intra- and extracellular electric potentials (in e.g. cardiac electrophysiology) is studied \[ u_t-\nabla\cdot(a_1\nabla u_1)=f(u,w), \] \[ u_t+\nabla\cdot(a_2\nabla u_2)=f(u,w), \] \[ w_t=g(u,w), \] \[ u_1-u_2=u, \] together with no-flux boundary conditions in a domain \(\Omega\). The authors reformulate the problem as a semilinear evolution equation, and prove local well-posedness in strong as well as in weak settings. They obtain solvability for initial data in the critical spaces of the problem. For dimension \(d\leq 4\), by means of energy estimates and a recent result of Serrin type, global existence is shown. Finally, stability of spatially constant equilibria is investigated, to the result that the stability properties of such equilibria are the same as for the classical FitzHugh-Nagumo system in ODE's. These properties of the bidomain equations are obtained combining recent results on the bidomain operator, and on critical spaces in [Zbl 1377.35176].