Chimera states in systems of nonlocal nonidentical phase-coupled oscillators

Travelling chimeras in oscillator lattices with advective-diffusive coupling

We consider a one-dimensional array of phase oscillators coupled via an auxiliary complex field. While in the seminal chimera studies by Kumamoto and Battogtokh only diffusion of the field was considered, we include advection which makes the coupling left-right asymmetric. Chimera starts to move and we demonstrate that a weakly turbulent moving pattern appears. It possesses a relatively large synchronous domain where the phases are nearly equal, and a more disordered domain where the local driving field is small. For a dense system with a large number of oscillators, there are strong local correlations in the disordered domain, which at most places looks like a smooth phase profile. We find also exact regular travelling wave chimera-like solutions of different complexity, but only some of them are stable. This article is part of the theme issue 'New trends in pattern formation and nonlinear dynamics of extended systems'.

Period-doubling route to mixed-mode chaos

Mixed-mode oscillations (MMOs) are a complex dynamical behavior in which each cycle of oscillation consists of one or more large amplitude spikes followed by one or more small amplitude peaks. MMOs typically undergo period-adding bifurcations under parameter variation. We demonstrate here, in a set of three identical, linearly coupled van der Pol oscillators, a scenario in which MMOs exhibit a period-doubling sequence to chaos that preserves the MMO structure, as well as period-adding bifurcations. We characterize the chaotic nature of the MMOs and attribute their existence to a master-slave-like forcing of the inner oscillator by the outer two with a sufficient phase difference between them. Simulations of a single nonautonomous oscillator forced by two sine functions support this interpretation and suggest that the MMO period-doubling scenario may be more general.

Nonstationary coherence-incoherence patterns in nonlocally coupled heterogeneous phase oscillators

We consider a large ring of nonlocally coupled phase oscillators and show that apart from stationary chimera states, this system also supports nonstationary coherence-incoherence patterns (CIPs). For identical oscillators, these CIPs behave as breathing chimera states and are found in a relatively small parameter region only. It turns out that the stability region of these states enlarges dramatically if a certain amount of spatially uniform heterogeneity (e.g., Lorentzian distribution of natural frequencies) is introduced in the system. In this case, nonstationary CIPs can be studied as stable quasiperiodic solutions of a corresponding mean-field equation, formally describing the infinite system limit. Carrying out direct numerical simulations of the mean-field equation, we find different types of nonstationary CIPs with pulsing and/or alternating chimera-like behavior. Moreover, we reveal a complex bifurcation scenario underlying the transformation of these CIPs into each other. These theoretical predictions are confirmed by numerical simulations of the original coupled oscillator system.

Analysis and observation of moving domain fronts in a ring of coupled electronic self-oscillators

In this work, we consider a ring of coupled electronic (Wien-bridge) oscillators from a perspective combining modeling, simulation, and experimental observation. Following up on earlier work characterizing the pairwise interaction of Wien-bridge oscillators by Kuramoto-Sakaguchi phase dynamics, we develop a lattice model for a chain thereof, featuring an exponentially decaying spatial kernel. We find that for certain values of the Sakaguchi parameter α, states of traveling phase-domain fronts involving the coexistence of two clearly separated regions of distinct dynamical behavior, can establish themselves in the ring lattice. Experiments and simulations show that stationary coexistence domains of synchronization only manifest themselves with the introduction of a local impurity; here an incoherent cluster of oscillators can arise reminiscent of the chimera states in a range of systems with homogeneous oscillators and suitable nonlocal interactions between them.

Chimeralike states in networks of bistable time-delayed feedback oscillators coupled via the mean field

We study the collective dynamics of oscillators in a network of identical bistable time-delayed feedback systems globally coupled via the mean field. The influence of delay and inertial properties of the mean field on the collective behavior of globally coupled oscillators is investigated. A variety of oscillation regimes in the network results from the presence of bistable states with substantially different frequencies in coupled oscillators. In the physical experiment and numerical simulation we demonstrate the existence of chimeralike states, in which some of the oscillators in the network exhibit synchronous oscillations, while all other oscillators remain asynchronous.

Chimera and chimera-like states in populations of nonlocally coupled homogeneous and heterogeneous chemical oscillators

Chimera and chimera-like states are characterized in populations of photochemically coupled Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) oscillators. Simple chimeras and chimera states with multiple and traveling phase clusters, phase-slip behavior, and chimera-like states with phase waves are described. Simulations with a realistic model of the discrete BZ system of populations of homogeneous and heterogeneous oscillators are compared with each other and with experimental behavior.

Erosion of synchronization: Coupling heterogeneity and network structure

We study the dynamics of network-coupled phase oscillators in the presence of coupling frustration. It was recently demonstrated that in heterogeneous network topologies, the presence of coupling frustration causes perfect phase synchronization to become unattainable even in the limit of infinite coupling strength. Here, we consider the important case of heterogeneous coupling functions and extend previous results by deriving analytical predictions for the total erosion of synchronization. Our analytical results are given in terms of basic quantities related to the network structure and coupling frustration. In addition to fully heterogeneous coupling, where each individual interaction is allowed to be distinct, we also consider partially heterogeneous coupling and homogeneous coupling in which the coupling functions are either unique to each oscillator or identical for all network interactions, respectively. We demonstrate the validity of our theory with numerical simulations of multiple network models, and highlight the interesting effects that various coupling choices and network models have on the total erosion of synchronization. Finally, we consider some special network structures with well-known spectral properties, which allows us to derive further analytical results.

Erosion of synchronization: Coupling heterogeneity and network structure

We study the dynamics of network-coupled phase oscillators in the presence of coupling frustration. It was recently demonstrated that in heterogeneous network topologies, the presence of coupling frustration causes perfect phase synchronization to become unattainable even in the limit of infinite coupling strength. Here, we consider the important case of heterogeneous coupling functions and extend previous results by deriving analytical predictions for the total erosion of synchronization. Our analytical results are given in terms of basic quantities related to the network structure and coupling frustration. In addition to fully heterogeneous coupling, where each individual interaction is allowed to be distinct, we also consider partially heterogeneous coupling and homogeneous coupling in which the coupling functions are either unique to each oscillator or identical for all network interactions, respectively. We demonstrate the validity of our theory with numerical simulations of multiple network models, and highlight the interesting effects that various coupling choices and network models have on the total erosion of synchronization. Finally, we consider some special network structures with well-known spectral properties, which allows us to derive further analytical results.