Reentrant transition in coupled noisy oscillators

We report on a novel type of instability observed in a noisy oscillator unidirectionally coupled to a pacemaker. Using a phase oscillator model, we find that, as the coupling strength is increased, the noisy oscillator lags behind the pacemaker more frequently and the phase slip rate increases, which may not be observed in averaged phase models such as the Kuramoto model. Investigation of the corresponding Fokker-Planck equation enables us to obtain the reentrant transition line between the synchronized state and the phase slip state. We verify our theory using the Brusselator model, suggesting that this reentrant transition can be found in a wide range of limit cycle oscillators.Comment: 16 pages, 7 figure

Phase and frequency response theory for chaotic oscillators

While phase response theory for limit cycle oscillators is a well established tool for the study of synchronization with predictive powers beyond simple linear response, an analogous, unified approach for the study of phase synchronization for autonomous chaotic oscillators has not been developed so far. The main source of ambiguity for such an approach is chaotic phase diffusion and the absence of a unique, geometrically meaningful phase. Here we present a new approach to phase response theory for autonomous, structurally stable chaotic oscillators based on Lyapunov vectors and shadowing trajectories. We also present an averaging technique for the slow dynamics of a suitably defined geometric phase difference between a chaotic oscillator and a driving force which can be used to estimate a phase coupling function in experiments. Our work opens the door for systematic studies of synchronization control of chaotic oscillations across scientific disciplines.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures (4+6 panels

Synchronization Transition of Identical Phase Oscillators in a Directed Small-World Network

We numerically study a directed small-world network consisting of attractively coupled, identical phase oscillators. While complete synchronization is always stable, it is not always reachable from random initial conditions. Depending on the shortcut density and on the asymmetry of the phase coupling function, there exists a regime of persistent chaotic dynamics. By increasing the density of shortcuts or decreasing the asymmetry of the phase coupling function, we observe a discontinuous transition in the ability of the system to synchronize. Using a control technique, we identify the bifurcation scenario of the order parameter. We also discuss the relation between dynamics and topology and remark on the similarity of the synchronization transition to directed percolation.Comment: This article has been accepted in AIP, Chaos. After it is published, it will be found at http://chaos.aip.org/, 12 pages, 9 figures, 1 tabl

Decentralised control of material or traffic flows in networks using phase-synchronisation

We present a self-organising, decentralised control method for material flows in networks. The concept applies to networks where time sharing mechanisms between conflicting flows in nodes are required and where a coordination of these local switches on a system-wide level can improve the performance. We show that, under certain assumptions, the control of nodes can be mapped to a network of phase-oscillators. By synchronising these oscillators, the desired global coordination is achieved. We illustrate the method in the example of traffic signal control for road networks. The proposed concept is flexible, adaptive, robust and decentralised. It can be transferred to other queuing networks such as production systems. Our control approach makes use of simple synchronisation principles found in various biological systems in order to obtain collective behaviour from local interactions