Chimera states in purely local delay-coupled oscillators

Synchronization transitions in a system of superdiffusively coupled neurons: Interplay of chimeras, solitary states, and phase waves

In this paper, a network of interacting neurons based on a two-component system of reaction-superdiffusion equations with fractional Laplace operator responsible for the coupling configuration and nonlinear functions of the Hindmarsh-Rose model is considered. The process of synchronization transition in the space of the fractional Laplace operator exponents is studied. This parametric space contains information about both the local interaction strength and the asymptotics of the long-range couplings for both components of the system under consideration. It is shown that in addition to the homogeneous transition, there are regions of inhomogeneous synchronization transition in the space of the fractional Laplace operator exponents. Weak changes of the corresponding exponents in inhomogeneous zones are associated with the significant restructuring of the dynamic modes in the system. The parametric regions of chimera states, solitary states, phase waves, as well as dynamical modes combining them, are determined. The development of filamentary structures associated with the manifestation of different partial synchronization modes has been detected. In view of the demonstrated link between changes in network topology and internal dynamics, the data obtained in this study may be useful for neuroscience tasks. The approaches used in this study can be applied to a wide range of natural science disciplines.

Chimera states among synchronous fireflies

Systems of oscillators often converge to a state of synchrony when sufficiently interconnected. Twenty years ago, the mathematical analysis of models of coupled oscillators revealed the possibility for complex phases that exhibit a coexistence of synchronous and asynchronous clusters, known as "chimera states." Beyond their recurrence in theoretical models, chimeras have been observed under specifically designed experimental conditions, yet their emergence in nature has remained elusive. Here, we report evidence for the occurrence of chimeras in a celebrated realization of natural synchrony: fireflies. In video recordings of Photuris frontalis fireflies, we observe, within a single swarm, the spontaneous emergence of different groups flashing with the same periodicity but with a constant delay between them. From the three-dimensional reconstruction of the swarm, we demonstrate that these states are stable over time and spatially intertwined. We discuss the implications of these findings on the synergy between mathematical models and collective behavior.

Taming non-stationary chimera states in locally coupled oscillators

The imperfect traveling chimera (ITC) state is a novel non-stationary chimera pattern in which the incoherent domain of oscillators spreads into the coherent domain. We investigate the ITC state in locally coupled pendulum oscillators with heterogeneous driving forces. We introduce the heterogeneous phase value in the driving forces by two different ways, namely, the random phase from uniform distribution and random phase directions with identical amplitude. We discover two transition mechanisms from ITC to coherent state through traveling chimera-like state by taking the two different phase heterogeneity. The transition phenomena are investigated using cylindrical and polar coordinate phase spaces. In the numerical study, we propose a quantitative measurement named "spatiotemporal consistency" strength for distinguishing the ITC from the traveling one. Our research facilitates the exploration of potential applications of heterogeneous interactions in neuroscience.

Large-scale spatiotemporal patterns in a ring of nonlocally coupled oscillators with a repulsive coupling

Nonlocally coupled oscillators with a phase lag exhibit various nontrivial spatiotemporal patterns such as the chimera states and the multitwisted states. We numerically study large-scale spatiotemporal patterns in a ring of oscillators with a repulsive coupling with a phase delay parameter α. We find that the multichimera state disappears when α exceeds a critical value. Analysis of the fraction of incoherent regions shows that the transition is analogous to that of directed percolation with two absorbing states but that their critical behaviors are different. The multichimera state reappears when α is further increased, exhibiting nontrivial spatiotemporal patterns with a plateau in the fraction of incoherent regions. A transition from the multichimera to multitwisted states follows at a larger value of α, resulting in five collective phases in total.

Chimera and cluster collective states in a dispersal ecological network under state-dependent feedback control and complex habitat structure

Pest control based on an economic threshold (ET) can effectively prevent excessive pest control measures such as pesticide abuse and overharvesting. The instinctive dispersal of pest populations in biological network patches for better survival poses challenges for pest management. As long as the pest density is controlled below the economic threshold and no pest outbreak occurs, the aim of pest management can be achieved and it is not necessary to completely remove the pests. This study focuses on the issues of chimera states and cluster solutions in regular bidirectional biological networks with state-dependent impulsive pest management. We consider the influence of two different control modes on the system states, namely global control and local control. Local control is found to be more likely to induce the chimera state. In addition, in the local coupling mode, a higher coupling strength is more likely to generate a coherent state, whereas a lower coupling strength is more likely to generate chimera and incoherent states. Furthermore, the cluster size is inversely related to the coupling strength under local coupling and global control.

Spiral wave chimera-like transient dynamics in three-dimensional grid of diffusive ecological systems

In the present article, we demonstrate the emergence and existence of the spiral wave chimera-like transient pattern in coupled ecological systems, composed of prey-predator patches, where the patches are connected in a three-dimensional medium through local diffusion. We explore the transition scenarios among several collective dynamical behaviors together with transient spiral wave chimera-like states and investigate the long time behavior of these states. The transition from the transient spiral chimera-like pattern to the long time synchronized or desynchronized pattern appears through the deformation of the incoherent region of the spiral core. We discuss the transient dynamics under the influence of the species diffusion at different time instants. By calculating the instantaneous strength of incoherence of the populations, we estimate the duration of the transient dynamics characterized by the persistence of the chimera-like spatial coexistence of coherent and incoherent patterns over the spatial domain. We generalize our observations on the transient dynamics in a three-dimensional grid of diffusive ecological systems by considering two different prey-predator systems.

Amplitude-mediated spiral chimera pattern in a nonlinear reaction-diffusion system

Formation of diverse patterns in spatially extended reaction-diffusion systems is an important aspect of study that is pertinent to many chemical and biological processes. Of special interest is the peculiar phenomenon of chimera state having spatial coexistence of coherent and incoherent dynamics in a system of identically interacting individuals. In the present article, we report the emergence of various collective dynamical patterns while considering a system of prey-predator dynamics in the presence of a two-dimensional diffusive environment. Particularly, we explore the observance of four distinct categories of spatial arrangements among the species, namely, spiral wave, spiral chimera, completely synchronized oscillations, and oscillation death states in a broad region of the diffusion-driven parameter space. Emergence of amplitude-mediated spiral chimera states displaying drifted amplitudes and phases in the incoherent subpopulation is detected for parameter values beyond both Turing and Hopf bifurcations. Transition scenarios among all these distinguishable patterns are numerically demonstrated for a wide range of the diffusion coefficients which reveal that the chimera states arise during the transition from oscillatory to steady-state dynamics. Furthermore, we characterize the occurrence of each of the recognizable patterns by estimating the strength of incoherent subpopulations in the two-dimensional space.

Remote pacemaker control of chimera states in multilayer networks of neurons

Networks of coupled nonlinear oscillators allow for the formation of nontrivial partially synchronized spatiotemporal patterns, such as chimera states, in which there are coexisting coherent (synchronized) and incoherent (desynchronized) domains. These complementary domains form spontaneously, and it is impossible to predict where the synchronized group will be positioned within the network. Therefore, possible ways to control the spatial position of the coherent and incoherent groups forming the chimera states are of high current interest. In this work we investigate how to control chimera patterns in multiplex networks of FitzHugh-Nagumo neurons, and in particular we want to prove that it is possible to remotely control chimera states exploiting the multiplex structure. We introduce a pacemaker oscillator within the network: this is an oscillator that does not receive input from the rest of the network but is sending out information to its neighbors. The pacemakers can be positioned in one or both layers. Their presence breaks the spatial symmetry of the layer in which they are introduced and allows us to control the position of the incoherent domain. We demonstrate how the remote control is possible for both uni- and bidirectional coupling between the layers. Furthermore we show which are the limitations of our control mechanisms when it is generalized from single-layer to multilayer networks.

Spike chimera states and firing regularities in neuronal hypernetworks

A complex spatiotemporal pattern with coexisting coherent and incoherent domains in a network of identically coupled oscillators is known as a chimera state. Here, we report the emergence and existence of a novel type of nonstationary chimera pattern in a network of identically coupled Hindmarsh-Rose neuronal oscillators in the presence of synaptic couplings. The development of brain function is mainly dependent on the interneuronal communications via bidirectional electrical gap junctions and unidirectional chemical synapses. In our study, we first consider a network of nonlocally coupled neurons where the interactions occur through chemical synapses. We uncover a new type of spatiotemporal pattern, which we call "spike chimera" induced by the desynchronized spikes of the coupled neurons with the coherent quiescent state. Thereafter, imperfect traveling chimera states emerge in a neuronal hypernetwork (which is characterized by the simultaneous presence of electrical and chemical synapses). Using suitable characterizations, such as local order parameter, strength of incoherence, and velocity profile, the existence of several dynamical states together with chimera states is identified in a wide range of parameter space. We also investigate the robustness of these nonstationary chimera states together with incoherent, coherent, and resting states with respect to initial conditions by using the basin stability measurement. Finally, we extend our study for the effect of firing regularity in the observed states. Interestingly, we find that the coherent motion of the neuronal network promotes the entire system to regular firing.

Chimera patterns in three-dimensional locally coupled systems

The coexistence of coherent and incoherent domains, namely the appearance of chimera states, has been studied extensively in many contexts of science and technology since the past decade, though the previous studies are mostly built on the framework of one-dimensional and two-dimensional interaction topologies. Recently, the emergence of such fascinating phenomena has been studied in a three-dimensional (3D) grid formation while considering only the nonlocal interaction. Here we study the emergence and existence of chimera patterns in a three-dimensional network of coupled Stuart-Landau limit-cycle oscillators and Hindmarsh-Rose neuronal oscillators with local (nearest-neighbor) interaction topology. The emergence of different types of spatiotemporal chimera patterns is investigated by taking two distinct nonlinear interaction functions. We provide appropriate analytical explanations in the 3D grid of the network formation and the corresponding numerical justifications are given. We extend our analysis on the basis of the Ott-Antonsen reduction approach in the case of Stuart-Landau oscillators containing infinite numbers of oscillators. Particularly, in the Hindmarsh-Rose neuronal network the existence of nonstationary chimera states is characterized by an instantaneous strength of incoherence and an instantaneous local order parameter. Besides, the condition for achieving exact neuronal synchrony is obtained analytically through a linear stability analysis. The different types of collective dynamics together with chimera states are mapped over a wide range of various parameter spaces.

Solitary states in multiplex networks owing to competing interactions

Recent researches in network science demonstrate the coexistence of different types of interactions among the individuals within the same system. A wide range of situations appear in ecological and neuronal systems that incorporate positive and negative interactions. Also, there are numerous examples of systems that are best represented by the multiplex configuration. The present article investigates a possible scenario for the emergence of a newly observed remarkable phenomenon named as solitary state in coupled dynamical units in which one or a few units split off and behave differently from the other units. For this, we consider dynamical systems connected through a multiplex architecture in the presence of both positive and negative couplings. We explore our findings through analysis of the paradigmatic FitzHugh-Nagumo system in both equilibrium and periodic regimes on the top of a multiplex network having positive inter-layer and negative intra-layer interactions. We further substantiate our proposition using a periodic Lorenz system with the same scheme and show that an opposite scheme of competitive interactions may also work for the Lorenz system in the chaotic regime.

Asymmetric cluster and chimera dynamics in globally coupled systems

We investigate the emergence of chimera and cluster states possessing asymmetric dynamics in globally coupled systems, where the trajectories of oscillators belonging to different subpopulations exhibit different dynamical properties. In an asymmetric chimera state, the trajectory of an element in the synchronized subset is stationary or periodic, while that of an oscillator in the desynchronized subset is chaotic. In an asymmetric cluster state, the periods of the trajectories of elements belonging to different clusters are different. We consider a network of globally coupled chaotic maps as a simple model for the occurrence of such asymmetric states in spatiotemporal systems. We employ the analogy between a single map subject to a constant drive and the effective local dynamics in the globally coupled map system to elucidate the mechanisms for the emergence of asymmetric chimera and cluster states in the latter system. By obtaining the dynamical responses of the driven map, we establish a condition for the equivalence of the dynamics of the driven map and that of the system of globally coupled maps. This condition is applied to predict parameter values and subset partitions for the formation of asymmetric cluster and chimera states in the globally coupled system.

Chimera states in neuronal networks: A review

Neuronal networks, similar to many other complex systems, self-organize into fascinating emergent states that are not only visually compelling, but also vital for the proper functioning of the brain. Synchronous spatiotemporal patterns, for example, play an important role in neuronal communication and plasticity, and in various cognitive processes. Recent research has shown that the coexistence of coherent and incoherent states, known as chimera states or simply chimeras, is particularly important and characteristic for neuronal systems. Chimeras have also been linked to the Parkinson's disease, epileptic seizures, and even to schizophrenia. The emergence of this unique collective behavior is due to diverse factors that characterize neuronal dynamics and the functioning of the brain in general, including neural bumps and unihemispheric slow-wave sleep in some aquatic mammals. Since their discovery, chimera states have attracted ample attention of researchers that work at the interface of physics and life sciences. We here review contemporary research dedicated to chimeras in neuronal networks, focusing on the relevance of different synaptic connections, and on the effects of different network structures and coupling setups. We also cover the emergence of different types of chimera states, we highlight their relevance in other related physical and biological systems, and we outline promising research directions for the future, including possibilities for experimental verification.

Chimera states in a Duffing oscillators chain coupled to nearest neighbors

Coupled nonlinear oscillators can present complex spatiotemporal behaviors. Here, we report the coexistence of coherent and incoherent domains, called chimera states, in an array of identical Duffing oscillators coupled to their nearest neighbors. The chimera states show a significant variation of amplitude in the desynchronized domain. These intriguing states are observed in the bistability region between a homogeneous state and a spatiotemporal chaotic one. These dynamical behaviors are characterized by their Lyapunov spectra and their global phase coherence order parameter. The local coupling between oscillators prevents one domain from invading the other one. Depending on initial conditions, a family of chimera states appear, organized in a snaking-like diagram.

Alternating chimeras in networks of ephaptically coupled bursting neurons

The distinctive phenomenon of the chimera state has been explored in neuronal systems under a variety of different network topologies during the last decade. Nevertheless, in all the works, the neurons are presumed to interact with each other directly with the help of synapses only. But, the influence of ephaptic coupling, particularly magnetic flux across the membrane, is mostly unexplored and should essentially be dealt with during the emergence of collective electrical activities and propagation of signals among the neurons in a network. Through this article, we report the development of an emerging dynamical state, namely, the alternating chimera, in a network of identical neuronal systems induced by an external electromagnetic field. Owing to this interaction scenario, the nonlinear neuronal oscillators are coupled indirectly via electromagnetic induction with magnetic flux, through which neurons communicate in spite of the absence of physical connections among them. The evolution of each neuron, here, is described by the three-dimensional Hindmarsh-Rose dynamics. We demonstrate that the presence of such non-locally and globally interacting external environments induces a stationary alternating chimera pattern in the ensemble of neurons, whereas in the local coupling limit, the network exhibits a transient chimera state whenever the local dynamics of the neurons is of the chaotic square-wave bursting type. For periodic square-wave bursting of the neurons, a similar qualitative phenomenon has been witnessed with the exception of the disappearance of cluster states for non-local and global interactions. Besides these observations, we advance our work while providing confirmation of the findings for neuronal ensembles exhibiting plateau bursting dynamics and also put forward the fact that the plateau pattern actually favors the alternating chimera more than others. These results may deliver better interpretations for different aspects of synchronization appearing in a network of neurons through field coupling that also relaxes the prerequisite of synaptic connectivity for realizing the chimera state in neuronal networks.

Asymmetry in initial cluster size favors symmetry in a network of oscillators

Counterintuitive to the common notion of symmetry breaking, asymmetry favors synchrony in a network of oscillators. Our observations on an ensemble of identical Stuart-Landau systems under a symmetry breaking coupling support our conjecture. As usual, for a complete deterministic and the symmetric choice of initial clusters, a variety of asymptotic states, namely, multicluster oscillation death (1-OD, 3-OD, and m -OD), chimera states, and traveling waves emerge. Alternatively, multiple chimera death (1-CD, 3-CD, and m -CD) and completely synchronous states emerge in the network whenever some randomness is added to the symmetric initial states. However, in both the cases, an increasing asymmetry in the initial cluster size restores symmetry in the network, leading to the most favorable complete synchronization state for a broad range of coupling parameters. We are able to reduce the network model using the mean-field approximation that reproduces the dynamical features of the original network.

Engineering chimera patterns in networks using heterogeneous delays

Symmetry breaking spatial patterns, referred to as chimera states, have recently been catapulted into the limelight due to their coexisting coherent and incoherent hybrid dynamics. Here, we present a method to engineer a chimera state by using an appropriate distribution of heterogeneous time delays on the edges of a network. The time delays in interactions, intrinsic to natural or artificial complex systems, are known to induce various modifications in spatiotemporal behaviors of the coupled dynamics on networks. Using a coupled chaotic map with the identical coupling environment, we demonstrate that control over the spatial location of the incoherent region of a chimera state in a network can be achieved by appropriately introducing time delays. This method allows for the engineering of tailor-made one cluster or multi-cluster chimera patterns. Furthermore, borrowing a measure of eigenvector localization from the spectral graph theory, we introduce a spatial inverse participation ratio, which provides a robust way for the identification of the chimera state. This report highlights the necessity to consider the heterogeneous time delays to develop applications for the chimera states in particular and understand coupled dynamical systems in general.

Distinct collective states due to trade-off between attractive and repulsive couplings

We investigate the effect of repulsive coupling together with an attractive coupling in a network of nonlocally coupled oscillators. To understand the complex interaction between these two couplings we introduce a control parameter in the repulsive coupling which plays a crucial role in inducing distinct complex collective patterns. In particular, we show the emergence of various cluster chimera death states through a dynamically distinct transition route, namely the oscillatory cluster state and coherent oscillation death state as a function of the repulsive coupling in the presence of the attractive coupling. In the oscillatory cluster state, the oscillators in the network are grouped into two distinct dynamical states of homogeneous and inhomogeneous oscillatory states. Further, the network of coupled oscillators follow the same transition route in the entire coupling range. Depending upon distinct coupling ranges, the system displays different number of clusters in the death state and oscillatory state. We also observe that the number of coherent domains in the oscillatory cluster state exponentially decreases with increase in coupling range and obeys a power-law decay. Additionally, we show analytical stability for observed solitary state, synchronized state, and incoherent oscillation death state.

Chimera states in two-dimensional networks of locally coupled oscillators

Chimera state is defined as a mixed type of collective state in which synchronized and desynchronized subpopulations of a network of coupled oscillators coexist and the appearance of such anomalous behavior has strong connection to diverse neuronal developments. Most of the previous studies on chimera states are not extensively done in two-dimensional ensembles of coupled oscillators by taking neuronal systems with nonlinear coupling function into account while such ensembles of oscillators are more realistic from a neurobiological point of view. In this paper, we report the emergence and existence of chimera states by considering locally coupled two-dimensional networks of identical oscillators where each node is interacting through nonlinear coupling function. This is in contrast with the existence of chimera states in two-dimensional nonlocally coupled oscillators with rectangular kernel in the coupling function. We find that the presence of nonlinearity in the coupling function plays a key role to produce chimera states in two-dimensional locally coupled oscillators. We analytically verify explicitly in the case of a network of coupled Stuart-Landau oscillators in two dimensions that the obtained results using Ott-Antonsen approach and our analytical finding very well matches with the numerical results. Next, we consider another type of important nonlinear coupling function which exists in neuronal systems, namely chemical synaptic function, through which the nearest-neighbor (locally coupled) neurons interact with each other. It is shown that such synaptic interacting function promotes the emergence of chimera states in two-dimensional lattices of locally coupled neuronal oscillators. In numerical simulations, we consider two paradigmatic neuronal oscillators, namely Hindmarsh-Rose neuron model and Rulkov map for each node which exhibit bursting dynamics. By associating various spatiotemporal behaviors and snapshots at particular times, we study the chimera states in detail over a large range of coupling parameter. The existence of chimera states is confirmed by instantaneous angular frequency, order parameter and strength of incoherence.

Chimera States in Continuous Media: Existence and Distinctness

The defining property of chimera states is the coexistence of coherent and incoherent domains in systems that are structurally and spatially homogeneous. The recent realization that such states might be common in oscillator networks raises the question of whether an analogous phenomenon can occur in continuous media. Here, we show that chimera states can exist in continuous systems even when the coupling is strictly local, as in many fluid and pattern forming media. Using the complex Ginzburg-Landau equation as a model system, we characterize chimera states consisting of a coherent domain of a frozen spiral structure and an incoherent domain of amplitude turbulence. We show that in this case, in contrast with discrete network systems, fluctuations in the local coupling field play a crucial role in limiting the coherent regions. We suggest these findings shed light on new possible forms of coexisting order and disorder in fluid systems.

Mobility-induced persistent chimera states

We study the dynamics of mobile, locally coupled identical oscillators in the presence of coupling delays. We find different kinds of chimera states in which coherent in-phase and antiphase domains coexist with incoherent domains. These chimera states are dynamic and can persist for long times for intermediate mobility values. We discuss the mechanisms leading to the formation of these chimera states in different mobility regimes. This finding could be relevant for natural and technological systems composed of mobile communicating agents.

Chimera states in multi-strain epidemic models with temporary immunity

We investigate a time-delayed epidemic model for multi-strain diseases with temporary immunity. In the absence of cross-immunity between strains, dynamics of each individual strain exhibit emergence and annihilation of limit cycles due to a Hopf bifurcation of the endemic equilibrium, and a saddle-node bifurcation of limit cycles depending on the time delay associated with duration of temporary immunity. Effects of all-to-all and non-local coupling topologies are systematically investigated by means of numerical simulations, and they suggest that cross-immunity is able to induce a diverse range of complex dynamical behaviors and synchronization patterns, including discrete traveling waves, solitary states, and amplitude chimeras. Interestingly, chimera states are observed for narrower cross-immunity kernels, which can have profound implications for understanding the dynamics of multi-strain diseases.

Chimera states in a multilayer network of coupled and uncoupled neurons

We study the emergence of chimera states in a multilayer neuronal network, where one layer is composed of coupled and the other layer of uncoupled neurons. Through the multilayer structure, the layer with coupled neurons acts as the medium by means of which neurons in the uncoupled layer share information in spite of the absence of physical connections among them. Neurons in the coupled layer are connected with electrical synapses, while across the two layers, neurons are connected through chemical synapses. In both layers, the dynamics of each neuron is described by the Hindmarsh-Rose square wave bursting dynamics. We show that the presence of two different types of connecting synapses within and between the two layers, together with the multilayer network structure, plays a key role in the emergence of between-layer synchronous chimera states and patterns of synchronous clusters. In particular, we find that these chimera states can emerge in the coupled layer regardless of the range of electrical synapses. Even in all-to-all and nearest-neighbor coupling within the coupled layer, we observe qualitatively identical between-layer chimera states. Moreover, we show that the role of information transmission delay between the two layers must not be neglected, and we obtain precise parameter bounds at which chimera states can be observed. The expansion of the chimera region and annihilation of cluster and fully coherent states in the parameter plane for increasing values of inter-layer chemical synaptic time delay are illustrated using effective range measurements. These results are discussed in the light of neuronal evolution, where the coexistence of coherent and incoherent dynamics during the developmental stage is particularly likely.

Coexisting synchronous and asynchronous states in locally coupled array of oscillators by partial self-feedback control

We report the emergence of coexisting synchronous and asynchronous subpopulations of oscillators in one dimensional arrays of identical oscillators by applying a self-feedback control. When a self-feedback is applied to a subpopulation of the array, similar to chimera states, it splits into two/more sub-subpopulations coexisting in coherent and incoherent states for a range of self-feedback strength. By tuning the coupling between the nearest neighbors and the amount of self-feedback in the perturbed subpopulation, the size of the coherent and the incoherent sub-subpopulations in the array can be controlled, although the exact size of them is unpredictable. We present numerical evidence using the Landau-Stuart system and the Kuramoto-Sakaguchi phase model.

Basin stability for chimera states

Chimera states, namely complex spatiotemporal patterns that consist of coexisting domains of spatially coherent and incoherent dynamics, are investigated in a network of coupled identical oscillators. These intriguing spatiotemporal patterns were first reported in nonlocally coupled phase oscillators, and it was shown that such mixed type behavior occurs only for specific initial conditions in nonlocally and globally coupled networks. The influence of initial conditions on chimera states has remained a fundamental problem since their discovery. In this report, we investigate the robustness of chimera states together with incoherent and coherent states in dependence on the initial conditions. For this, we use the basin stability method which is related to the volume of the basin of attraction, and we consider nonlocally and globally coupled time-delayed Mackey-Glass oscillators as example. Previously, it was shown that the existence of chimera states can be characterized by mean phase velocity and a statistical measure, such as the strength of incoherence, by using well prepared initial conditions. Here we show further how the coexistence of different dynamical states can be identified and quantified by means of the basin stability measure over a wide range of the parameter space.

Chimeras and clusters in networks of hyperbolic chaotic oscillators

We show that chimera states, where differentiated subsets of synchronized and desynchronized dynamical elements coexist, can emerge in networks of hyperbolic chaotic oscillators subject to global interactions. As local dynamics we employ Lozi maps, which possess hyperbolic chaotic attractors. We consider a globally coupled system of these maps and use two statistical quantities to describe its collective behavior: the average fraction of elements belonging to clusters and the average standard deviation of state variables. Chimera states, clusters, complete synchronization, and incoherence are thus characterized on the space of parameters of the system. We find that chimera states are related to the formation of clusters in the system. In addition, we show that chimera states arise for a sufficiently long range of interactions in nonlocally coupled networks of these maps. Our results reveal that, under some circumstances, hyperbolicity does not impede the formation of chimera states in networks of coupled chaotic systems, as it had been previously hypothesized.

Chimera states in uncoupled neurons induced by a multilayer structure

Spatial coexistence of coherent and incoherent dynamics in network of coupled oscillators is called a chimera state. We study such chimera states in a network of neurons without any direct interactions but connected through another medium of neurons, forming a multilayer structure. The upper layer is thus made up of uncoupled neurons and the lower layer plays the role of a medium through which the neurons in the upper layer share information among each other. Hindmarsh-Rose neurons with square wave bursting dynamics are considered as nodes in both layers. In addition, we also discuss the existence of chimera states in presence of inter layer heterogeneity. The neurons in the bottom layer are globally connected through electrical synapses, while across the two layers chemical synapses are formed. According to our research, the competing effects of these two types of synapses can lead to chimera states in the upper layer of uncoupled neurons. Remarkably, we find a density-dependent threshold for the emergence of chimera states in uncoupled neurons, similar to the quorum sensing transition to a synchronized state. Finally, we examine the impact of both homogeneous and heterogeneous inter-layer information transmission delays on the observed chimera states over a wide parameter space.

Excitation and suppression of chimera states by multiplexing

We study excitation and suppression of chimera states in an ensemble of nonlocally coupled oscillators arranged in a framework of multiplex network. We consider the homogeneous network (all identical oscillators) with different parametric cases and interlayer heterogeneity by introducing parameter mismatch between the layers. We show the feasibility to suppress chimera states in the multiplex network via moderate interlayer interaction between a layer exhibiting chimera state and other layers which are in a coherent or incoherent state. On the contrary, for larger interlayer coupling, we observe the emergence of identical chimera states in both layers which we call an interlayer chimera state. We map the spatiotemporal behavior in a wide range of parameters, varying interlayer coupling strength and phase lag in two and three multiplexing layers. We also prove the emergence of interlayer chimera states in a multiplex network via evaluation of a continuous model. Furthermore, we consider the two-layered network of Hindmarsh-Rose neurons and reveal that in such a system multiplex interaction between layers is capable of exciting not only the synchronous interlayer chimera state but also nonidentical chimera patterns.

Imperfect traveling chimera states induced by local synaptic gradient coupling

In this paper, we report the occurrence of chimera patterns in a network of neuronal oscillators, which are coupled through local, synaptic gradient coupling. We discover a new chimera pattern, namely the imperfect traveling chimera state, where the incoherent traveling domain spreads into the coherent domain of the network. Remarkably, we also find that chimera states arise even for one-way local coupling, which is in contrast to the earlier belief that only nonlocal, global, or nearest-neighbor local coupling can give rise to chimera state; this find further relaxes the essential connectivity requirement of getting a chimera state. We choose a network of identical bursting Hindmarsh-Rose neuronal oscillators, and we show that depending upon the relative strength of the synaptic and gradient coupling, several chimera patterns emerge. We map all the spatiotemporal behaviors in parameter space and identify the transitions among several chimera patterns, an in-phase synchronized state, and a global amplitude death state.