Extreme sensitivity to detuning for globally coupled phase oscillators

Symmetry breaking yields chimeras in two small populations of Kuramoto-type oscillators

Despite their simplicity, networks of coupled phase oscillators can give rise to intriguing collective dynamical phenomena. However, the symmetries of globally and identically coupled identical units do not allow solutions where distinct oscillators are frequency-unlocked-a necessary condition for the emergence of chimeras. Thus, forced symmetry breaking is necessary to observe chimera-type solutions. Here, we consider the bifurcations that arise when full permutational symmetry is broken for the network to consist of coupled populations. We consider the smallest possible network composed of four phase oscillators and elucidate the phase space structure, (partial) integrability for some parameter values, and how the bifurcations away from full symmetry lead to frequency-unlocked weak chimera solutions. Since such solutions wind around a torus they must arise in a global bifurcation scenario. Moreover, periodic weak chimeras undergo a period-doubling cascade leading to chaos. The resulting chaotic dynamics with distinct frequencies do not rely on amplitude variation and arise in the smallest networks that support chaos.

Robustness of chimera states in nonlocally coupled networks of nonidentical logistic maps

We investigate the dynamics of nonlocally coupled time-discrete maps with emphasis on the occurrence and robustness of chimera states. These peculiar, hybrid states are characterized by a coexistence of coherent and incoherent regions. We consider logistic maps coupled on a one-dimensional ring with finite coupling radius. Domains of chimera existence form different tongues in the parameter space of coupling range and coupling strength. For a sufficiently large coupling strength, each tongue refers to a wave number describing the structure of the spatial profile. We also analyze the period-adding scheme within these tongues and multiplicity of period solutions. Furthermore, we study the robustness of chimeras with respect to parameter inhomogeneities and find that these states persist for different widths of the parameter distribution. Finally, we explore the spatial structure of the chimera using a spatial correlation function.

Criticality in the brain: A synthesis of neurobiology, models and cognition

Cognitive function requires the coordination of neural activity across many scales, from neurons and circuits to large-scale networks. As such, it is unlikely that an explanatory framework focused upon any single scale will yield a comprehensive theory of brain activity and cognitive function. Modelling and analysis methods for neuroscience should aim to accommodate multiscale phenomena. Emerging research now suggests that multi-scale processes in the brain arise from so-called critical phenomena that occur very broadly in the natural world. Criticality arises in complex systems perched between order and disorder, and is marked by fluctuations that do not have any privileged spatial or temporal scale. We review the core nature of criticality, the evidence supporting its role in neural systems and its explanatory potential in brain health and disease.

Isotropy of Angular Frequencies and Weak Chimeras with Broken Symmetry

The notion of a weak chimeras provides a tractable definition for chimera states in networks of finitely many phase oscillators. Here, we generalize the definition of a weak chimera to a more general class of equivariant dynamical systems by characterizing solutions in terms of the isotropy of their angular frequency vector-for coupled phase oscillators the angular frequency vector is given by the average of the vector field along a trajectory. Symmetries of solutions automatically imply angular frequency synchronization. We show that the presence of such symmetries is not necessary by giving a result for the existence of weak chimeras without instantaneous or setwise symmetries for coupled phase oscillators. Moreover, we construct a coupling function that gives rise to chaotic weak chimeras without symmetry in weakly coupled populations of phase oscillators with generalized coupling.

Critical Links and Nonlocal Rerouting in Complex Supply Networks

Link failures repeatedly induce large-scale outages in power grids and other supply networks. Yet, it is still not well understood which links are particularly prone to inducing such outages. Here we analyze how the nature and location of each link impact the network's capability to maintain a stable supply. We propose two criteria to identify critical links on the basis of the topology and the load distribution of the network prior to link failure. They are determined via a link's redundant capacity and a renormalized linear response theory we derive. These criteria outperform the critical link prediction based on local measures such as loads. The results not only further our understanding of the physics of supply networks in general. As both criteria are available before any outage from the state of normal operation, they may also help real-time monitoring of grid operation, employing countermeasures and support network planning and design.

Hopf bifurcation and multistability in a system of phase oscillators

We study the phase reduction of two coupled van der Pol oscillators with asymmetric repulsive coupling under an external harmonic force. We show that the system of two phase oscillators undergoes a Hopf bifurcation and possesses multistability on a 2π-periodic phase plane. We describe the bifurcation mechanisms of formation of multistability in the phase-reduced system and show that the Andronov-Hopf bifurcation in the phase-reduced system is not an artifact of the reduction approach but, indeed, has its prototype in the nonreduced system. The bifurcational mechanisms presented in the paper enable one to describe synchronization effects in a wide class of interacting systems with repulsive coupling e.g., genetic oscillators.

Unstable attractors with active simultaneous firing in pulse-coupled oscillators

Unstable attractors whose nearby points will almost leave the neighborhood have been observed in pulse-coupled oscillators. In this model, an oscillator fires and sends out a pulse when reaching the threshold. In terms of these firing events, we find that the unstable attractors have a simple property hidden in the event sequences. They coexist with active simultaneous firing events. That is, at least two oscillators reach the threshold simultaneously, which is not directly caused by the receiving pulses. We show that the split of the active simultaneous firing events by general perturbations can make the nearby points leave the unstable attractors. Furthermore, this structure can be applied to study the bifurcation of unstable attractors. Unstable attractors can bifurcate due to the failure of establishing active simultaneous firing events.

From networks of unstable attractors to heteroclinic switching

We present a dynamical system that naturally exhibits two unstable attractors that are completely enclosed by each other's basin volume. This counterintuitive phenomenon occurs in networks of pulse-coupled oscillators with delayed interactions. We analytically show that upon continuously removing a local noninvertibility of the system, the two unstable attractors become a set of two nonattracting saddle states that are heteroclinically connected. This transition equally occurs from larger networks of unstable attractors to heteroclinic structures and constitutes a new type of singular bifurcation in dynamical systems.

When Lyapunov exponents fail to exist

We describe a simple continuous-time flow such that Lyapunov exponents fail to exist at nearly every point in the phase space R2 , despite the fact that the flow admits a unique natural measure. This example illustrates that the existence of Lyapunov exponents is a subtle question for systems that are not conservative.