Synchronization of chaotic networks with time-delayed couplings: an analytic study

A model integrating multiple processes of synchronization and coherence for information instantiation within a cortical area

What is the form of dynamic, e.g., sensory, information in the mammalian cortex? Information in the cortex is modeled as a coherence map of a mixed chimera state of synchronous, phasic, and disordered minicolumns. The theoretical model is built on neurophysiological evidence. Complex spatiotemporal information is instantiated through a system of interacting biological processes that generate a synchronized cortical area, a coherent aperture. Minicolumn elements are grouped in macrocolumns in an array analogous to a phased-array radar, modeled as an aperture, a "hole through which radiant energy flows." Coherence maps in a cortical area transform inputs from multiple sources into outputs to multiple targets, while reducing complexity and entropy. Coherent apertures can assume extremely large numbers of different information states as coherence maps, which can be communicated among apertures with corresponding very large bandwidths. The coherent aperture model incorporates considerable reported research, integrating five conceptually and mathematically independent processes: 1) a damped Kuramoto network model, 2) a pumped area field potential, 3) the gating of nearly coincident spikes, 4) the coherence of activity across cortical lamina, and 5) complex information formed through functions in macrocolumns. Biological processes and their interactions are described in equations and a functional circuit such that the mathematical pieces can be assembled the same way the neurophysiological ones are. The model can be conceptually convolved over the specifics of local cortical areas within and across species. A coherent aperture becomes a node in a graph of cortical areas with a corresponding distribution of information.

Synchronization in networks with heterogeneous coupling delays

Synchronization in networks of identical oscillators with heterogeneous coupling delays is studied. A decomposition of the network dynamics is obtained by block diagonalizing a newly introduced adjacency lag operator which contains the topology of the network as well as the corresponding coupling delays. This generalizes the master stability function approach, which was developed for homogenous delays. As a result the network dynamics can be analyzed by delay differential equations with distributed delay, where different delay distributions emerge for different network modes. Frequency domain methods are used for the stability analysis of synchronized equilibria and synchronized periodic orbits. As an example, the synchronization behavior in a system of delay-coupled Hodgkin-Huxley neurons is investigated. It is shown that the parameter regions where synchronized periodic spiking is unstable expand when increasing the delay heterogeneity.

Anticipated and zero-lag synchronization in motifs of delay-coupled systems

Anticipated and zero-lag synchronization have been observed in different scientific fields. In the brain, they might play a fundamental role in information processing, temporal coding and spatial attention. Recent numerical work on anticipated and zero-lag synchronization studied the role of delays. However, an analytical understanding of the conditions for these phenomena remains elusive. In this paper, we study both phenomena in systems with small delays. By performing a phase reduction and studying phase locked solutions, we uncover the functional relation between the delay, excitation and inhibition for the onset of anticipated synchronization in a sender-receiver-interneuron motif. In the case of zero-lag synchronization in a chain motif, we determine the stability conditions. These analytical solutions provide an excellent prediction of the phase-locked regimes of Hodgkin-Huxley models and Roessler oscillators.

Stability regions for synchronized τ-periodic orbits of coupled maps with coupling delay τ

Motivated by the chaos suppression methods based on stabilizing an unstable periodic orbit, we study the stability of synchronized periodic orbits of coupled map systems when the period of the orbit is the same as the delay in the information transmission between coupled units. We show that the stability region of a synchronized periodic orbit is determined by the Floquet multiplier of the periodic orbit for the uncoupled map, the coupling constant, the smallest and the largest Laplacian eigenvalue of the adjacency matrix. We prove that the stabilization of an unstable τ-periodic orbit via coupling with delay τ is possible only when the Floquet multiplier of the orbit is negative and the connection structure is not bipartite. For a given coupling structure, it is possible to find the values of the coupling strength that stabilizes unstable periodic orbits. The most suitable connection topology for stabilization is found to be the all-to-all coupling. On the other hand, a negative coupling constant may lead to destabilization of τ-periodic orbits that are stable for the uncoupled map. We provide examples of coupled logistic maps demonstrating the stabilization and destabilization of synchronized τ-periodic orbits as well as chaos suppression via stabilization of a synchronized τ-periodic orbit.

Discrete-time systems with random switches: From systems stability to networks synchronization

In this article, we develop some approaches, which enable us to more accurately and analytically identify the essential patterns that guarantee the almost sure stability of discrete-time systems with random switches. We allow for the case that the elements in the switching connection matrix even obey some unbounded and continuous-valued distributions. In addition to the almost sure stability, we further investigate the almost sure synchronization in complex dynamical networks consisting of randomly connected nodes. Numerical examples illustrate that a chaotic dynamics in the synchronization manifold is preserved when statistical parameters enter some almost sure synchronization region established by the developed approach. Moreover, some delicate configurations are considered on probability space for ensuring synchronization in networks whose nodes are described by nonlinear maps. Both theoretical and numerical results on synchronization are presented by setting only a few random connections in each switch duration. More interestingly, we analytically find it possible to achieve almost sure synchronization in the randomly switching complex networks even with very large population sizes, which cannot be easily realized in non-switching but deterministically connected networks.

Chaos synchronization by resonance of multiple delay times

Chaos synchronization may arise in networks of nonlinear units with delayed couplings. We study complete and sublattice synchronization generated by resonance of two large time delays with a specific ratio. As it is known for single-delay networks, the number of synchronized sublattices is determined by the greatest common divisor (GCD) of the network loop lengths. We demonstrate analytically the GCD condition in networks of iterated Bernoulli maps with multiple delay times and complement our analytic results by numerical phase diagrams, providing parameter regions showing complete and sublattice synchronization by resonance for Tent and Bernoulli maps. We compare networks with the same GCD with single and multiple delays, and we investigate the sensitivity of the correlation to a detuning between the delays in a network of coupled Stuart-Landau oscillators. Moreover, the GCD condition also allows detection of time-delay resonances, leading to high correlations in nonsynchronizable networks. Specifically, GCD-induced resonances are observed both in a chaotic asymmetric network and in doubly connected rings of delay-coupled noisy linear oscillators.

The transition between strong and weak chaos in delay systems: Stochastic modeling approach

We investigate the scaling behavior of the maximal Lyapunov exponent in chaotic systems with time delay. In the large-delay limit, it is known that one can distinguish between strong and weak chaos depending on the delay scaling, analogously to strong and weak instabilities for steady states and periodic orbits. Here we show that the Lyapunov exponent of chaotic systems shows significant differences in its scaling behavior compared to constant or periodic dynamics due to fluctuations in the linearized equations of motion. We reproduce the chaotic scaling properties with a linear delay system with multiplicative noise. We further derive analytic limit cases for the stochastic model illustrating the mechanisms of the emerging scaling laws.

Synchronization of networks of oscillators with distributed delay coupling

This paper studies the stability of synchronized states in networks, where couplings between nodes are characterized by some distributed time delay, and develops a generalized master stability function approach. Using a generic example of Stuart-Landau oscillators, it is shown how the stability of synchronized solutions in networks with distributed delay coupling can be determined through a semi-analytic computation of Floquet exponents. The analysis of stability of fully synchronized and of cluster or splay states is illustrated for several practically important choices of delay distributions and network topologies.

Chaos in networks with time-delayed couplings

Networks of nonlinear units coupled by time-delayed signals can show chaos. In the limit of long delay times, chaos appears in two ways: strong and weak, depending on how the maximal Lyapunov exponent scales with the delay time. Only for weak chaos, a network can synchronize completely, without time shift. The conditions for strong and weak chaos and synchronization in networks with multiple delay times are investigated.

Noise Induced Pattern Switching in Randomly Distributed Delayed Swarms

We study the effects of noise on the dynamics of a system of coupled self-propelling particles in the case where the coupling is time-delayed, and the delays are discrete and randomly generated. Previous work has demonstrated that the stability of a class of emerging patterns depends upon all moments of the time delay distribution, and predicts their bifurcation parameter ranges. Near the bifurcations of these patterns, noise may induce a transition from one type of pattern to another. We study the onset of these noise-induced swarm re-organizations by numerically simulating the system over a range of noise intensities and for various distributions of the delays. Interestingly, there is a critical noise threshold above which the system is forced to transition from a less organized state to a more organized one. We explore this phenomenon by quantifying this critical noise threshold, and note that transition time between states varies as a function of both the noise intensity and delay distribution.

Discontinuous attractor dimension at the synchronization transition of time-delayed chaotic systems

The attractor dimension at the transition to complete synchronization in a network of chaotic units with time-delayed couplings is investigated. In particular, we determine the Kaplan-Yorke dimension from the spectrum of Lyapunov exponents for iterated maps and for two coupled semiconductor lasers. We argue that the Kaplan-Yorke dimension must be discontinuous at the transition and compare it to the correlation dimension. For a system of Bernoulli maps, we indeed find a jump in the correlation dimension. The magnitude of the discontinuity in the Kaplan-Yorke dimension is calculated for networks of Bernoulli units as a function of the network size. Furthermore, the scaling of the Kaplan-Yorke dimension as well as of the Kolmogorov entropy with system size and time delay is investigated.

Chaos pass filter: linear response of synchronized chaotic systems

The linear response of synchronized time-delayed chaotic systems to small external perturbations, i.e., the phenomenon of chaos pass filter, is investigated for iterated maps. The distribution of distances, i.e., the deviations between two synchronized chaotic units due to external perturbations on the transferred signal, is used as a measure of the linear response. It is calculated numerically and, for some special cases, analytically. Depending on the model parameters this distribution has power law tails in the region of synchronization leading to diverging moments of distances. This is a consequence of multiplicative and additive noise in the corresponding linear equations due to chaos and external perturbations. The linear response can also be quantified by the bit error rate of a transmitted binary message which perturbs the synchronized system. The bit error rate is given by an integral over the distribution of distances and is calculated analytically and numerically. It displays a complex nonmonotonic behavior in the region of synchronization. For special cases the distribution of distances has a fractal structure leading to a devil's staircase for the bit error rate as a function of coupling strength. The response to small harmonic perturbations shows resonances related to coupling and feedback delay times. A bidirectionally coupled chain of three units can completely filter out the perturbation. Thus the second moment and the bit error rate become zero.

Effect of multiple time-delay on vibrational resonance

We report our investigation on the effect of multiple time-delay on vibrational resonance in a single Duffing oscillator and in a system of n Duffing oscillators coupled unidirectionally and driven by both a low- and a high-frequency periodic force. For the single oscillator, we obtain analytical expressions for the response amplitude Q and the amplitude g of the high-frequency force at which resonance occurs. The regions in parameter space of enhanced Q at resonance, as compared to the case in absence of time-delay, show a bands-like structure. For the two-coupled oscillators, we explain all the features of variation of Q with the control parameter g. For the system of n-coupled oscillators with a single time-delay coupling, the response amplitudes of the oscillators are shown to be independent of the time-delay. In the case of a multi time-delayed coupling, undamped signal propagation takes place for coupling strength (δ) above a certain critical value (denoted as δu). Moreover, the response amplitude approaches a limiting value QL with the oscillator number i. We obtain analytical expressions for both δu and QL.

Statistical multimoment bifurcations in random-delay coupled swarms

We study the effects of discrete, randomly distributed time delays on the dynamics of a coupled system of self-propelling particles. Bifurcation analysis on a mean field approximation of the system reveals that the system possesses patterns with certain universal characteristics that depend on distinguished moments of the time delay distribution. Specifically, we show both theoretically and numerically that although bifurcations of simple patterns, such as translations, change stability only as a function of the first moment of the time delay distribution, more complex patterns arising from Hopf bifurcations depend on all of the moments.

On the formulation and solution of the isochronal synchronization stability problem in delay-coupled complex networks

We present a new framework to the formulation of the problem of isochronal synchronization for networks of delay-coupled oscillators. Using a linear transformation to change coordinates of the network state vector, this method allows straightforward definition of the error system, which is a critical step in the formulation of the synchronization problem. The synchronization problem is then solved on the basis of Lyapunov-Krasovskii theorem. Following this approach, we show how the error system can be defined such that its dimension can be the same as (or smaller than) that of the network state vector.

Explosive synchronization enhanced by time-delayed coupling

This paper deals with the emergence of explosive synchronization in scale-free networks by considering the Kuramoto model of coupled phase oscillators. The natural frequencies of oscillators are assumed to be correlated with their degrees, and a time delay is included in the system. This assumption allows enhancing the explosive transition to reach a synchronous state. We provide an analytical treatment developed in a star graph, which reproduces results obtained in scale-free networks. Our findings have important implications in understanding the synchronization of complex networks since the time delay is present in most real-world complex systems due to the finite speed of the signal transmission over a distance.

Delay-induced synchrony in complex networks with conjugate coupling

We demonstrate stable synchronous chaos in a delay coupled network of time continuous dynamical system using the framework of master stability formalism (MSF). It is further shown that conjugate coupling, i.e., coupling using dissimilar variables, can substitute delay coupling of similar variables in retrieving delay-induced phenomena. By exploiting the MSF, we show that delayed conjugate coupling in an arbitrary network is capable of both inducing synchronization where there is no synchronization at all and enhancing synchronization to a large parameter space, which even the conjugate coupling without delay is incapable of. The above results are demonstrated using the paradigmatic Rössler system and Hindmarsh-Rose neuron.

Noise-enhanced phase synchronization in time-delayed systems

We investigate the phenomenon of noise-enhanced phase synchronization (PS) in coupled time-delay systems, which usually exhibit non-phase-coherent attractors with complex topological properties. As a delay system is essentially an infinite dimensional in nature with multiple characteristic time scales, it is interesting and crucial to understand the interplay of noise and the time scales in achieving PS. In unidirectionally coupled systems, the response system adjust all its time scales to that of the drive, whereas both subsystems adjust their rhythms to a single (main time scale of the uncoupled system) time scale in bidirectionally coupled systems. We find similar effects for both a common and an independent additive Gaussian noise.

Randomly Distributed Delayed Communication and Coherent Swarm Patterns

Previously we showed how delay communication between globally coupled self-propelled agents causes new spatio-temporal patterns to arise when the delay coupling is fixed among all agents [1]. In this paper, we show how discrete, randomly distributed delays affect the dynamical patterns. In particular, we investigate how the standard deviation of the time delay distribution affects the stability of the different patterns as well as the switching probability between coherent states.

Strong and weak chaos in nonlinear networks with time-delayed couplings

We study chaotic synchronization in networks with time-delayed coupling. We introduce the notion of strong and weak chaos, distinguished by the scaling properties of the maximum Lyapunov exponent within the synchronization manifold for large delay times, and relate this to the condition for stable or unstable chaotic synchronization, respectively. In simulations of laser models and experiments with electronic circuits, we identify transitions from weak to strong and back to weak chaos upon monotonically increasing the coupling strength.

Coexistence of exponentially many chaotic spin-glass attractors

A chaotic network of size N with delayed interactions which resembles a pseudoinverse associative memory neural network is investigated. For a load α = P/N < 1, where P stands for the number of stored patterns, the chaotic network functions as an associative memory of 2P attractors with macroscopic basin of attractions which decrease with α. At finite α, a chaotic spin-glass phase exists, where the number of distinct chaotic attractors scales exponentially with N. Each attractor is characterized by a coexistence of chaotic behavior and freezing of each one of the N chaotic units or freezing with respect to the P patterns. Results are supported by large scale simulations of networks composed of Bernoulli map units and Mackey-Glass time delay differential equations.

Complete chaotic synchronization and exclusion of mutual Pyragas control in two delay-coupled Rössler-type oscillators

Two identical chaotic oscillators that are mutually coupled via time delayed signals show very complex patterns of completely synchronized dynamics including stationary states and periodic as well as chaotic oscillations. We have experimentally observed these synchronized states in delay-coupled electronic circuits and have analyzed their stability by numerical simulations and analytical calculations. We found that the conditions for longitudinal and transversal stability largely exclude each other and prevent, e.g., the synchronization of Pyragas-controlled orbits. Most striking is the observation of complete chaotic synchronization for large delay times, which should not be allowed in the given coupling scheme on the background of the actual paradigm.