Figure 14.

Threads potentials as functions of time. Thread η₂ is closer to the antenna, and thread η₁₀ sits at the end of the prong. Parameters as in figure 3. In the inset, we show a portion of η₁₀ (τ). (a) After twitching, the thread is in a quiescent state for at least the refractory time Δ. (b) When the geometric condition iϕ > σ holds, the thread begins to load exponentially, η_i(τ) = C₂ e^−λ₁τ. (c) The motion of the antenna is such that iϕ < σ, the thread discharges before twitching; in this segment, we have η_i(τ) = C₁ e^−λ₁τ +λ₂/λ₁ (1 − e^−λ₁τ). (d) The condition iϕ > σ holds again, the thread loads exponentially and twitches. For the internal threads 2–6, the potentials are composed only of segments of types (a) and (d): for these threads, indeed, the geometric condition iϕ > σ is unlikely to be satisfied, because i is small.