Fig. 3

Time-resolved response of APs to a traveling symmetric light pulse. a \(u \ll v_{\mathrm{p}}^{{\mathrm{max}}}\),\(v_{\mathrm{p}}^{{\mathrm{max}}}\) = 2 μm/s, u = 0.25 μm/s. b \(u \approx v_{\mathrm{p}}^{{\mathrm{max}}}\), \(v_{\mathrm{p}}^{{\mathrm{max}}}\) = 2 μm/s, u = 2 μm/s. c \(u \approx v_{\mathrm{p}}^{{\mathrm{max}}}\), \(v_{\mathrm{p}}^{{\mathrm{max}}}\) = 2 μm/s, u = 2 μm/s, θ₀ = π. Temporal evolution of x, \(v_{\mathrm{p}}^{{\mathrm{max}}}\), and θ and schematic representation of the AP’s response to the traveling pulse (top view). Background color code: Light and dark green areas represent wavefronts and wavebacks, respectively