Spontaneous Stabilization and Large-Scale Oscillations of an Active Medium with Negative Dissipation

The paper analyzes a numerical model of an “active medium” with linear elasticity and a negative initial dissipation constant dynamically renormalized under deformation. The analysis shows that such a system, being seemingly unstable over a wide range of geometries and origins of deformation, can spontaneously reach stable dynamic modes in which its time- and space-alternating dissipation forms complex quasiperiodic patterns and its total volume (length, area) oscillates on a large scale. The results presented in the paper are of interest in academic terms and in terms of mechanical and biological application.