Characteristics of in-out intermittency in delay-coupled FitzHugh-Nagumo oscillators

We analyze a pair of delay-coupled FitzHugh-Nagumo oscillators exhibiting in-out intermittency as a part of the generating mechanism of extreme events. We study in detail the characteristics of in-out intermittency and identify the invariant subsets involved --- a saddle fixed point and a saddle periodic orbit --- neither of which are chaotic as in the previously reported cases of in-out intermittency. Based on the analysis of a periodic attractor possessing in-out dynamics, we can characterize the approach to the invariant synchronization manifold and the spiralling out to the saddle periodic orbit with subsequent ejection from the manifold. Due to the striking similarities, this analysis of in-out dynamics explains also in-out intermittency.Comment: 15 pages, 6 figure

Riddled Basins of Attraction in Systems Exhibiting Extreme Events

Using a system of two FitzHugh-Nagumo units, we demonstrate the occurrence of riddled basins of attraction in delay-coupled systems as the coupling between the units is increased. We characterize the riddled basin using the uncertainty exponent which is a measure of the dimensions of the basin boundary. Additionally, we show that the phase space can be partitioned into pure and mixed regions, where initial conditions in the pure regions certainly avoid the generation of extreme events while initial conditions in the mixed region may or may not exhibit such events. This implies, that any tiny perturbation of initial conditions in the mixed region could yield the emergence of extreme events because the latter state possesses a riddled basin of attraction

Generalized models as a universal approach to the analysis of nonlinear dynamical systems

We present a universal approach to the investigation of the dynamics in generalized models. In these models the processes that are taken into account are not restricted to specific functional forms. Therefore a single generalized models can describe a class of systems which share a similar structure. Despite this generality, the proposed approach allows us to study the dynamical properties of generalized models efficiently in the framework of local bifurcation theory. The approach is based on a normalization procedure that is used to identify natural parameters of the system. The Jacobian in a steady state is then derived as a function of these parameters. The analytical computation of local bifurcations using computer algebra reveals conditions for the local asymptotic stability of steady states and provides certain insights on the global dynamics of the system. The proposed approach yields a close connection between modelling and nonlinear dynamics. We illustrate the investigation of generalized models by considering examples from three different disciplines of science: a socio-economic model of dynastic cycles in china, a model for a coupled laser system and a general ecological food web.Comment: 15 pages, 2 figures, (Fig. 2 in color

What Determines Size Distributions of Heavy Drops in a Synthetic Turbulent Flow?

We present results from an individual particle based model for the collision, coagulation and fragmentation of heavy drops moving in a turbulent flow. Such a model framework can help to bridge the gap between the full hydrodynamic simulation of two phase flows, which can usually only study few particles and mean field based approaches for coagulation and fragmentation relying heavily on parameterization and are for example unable to fully capture particle inertia. We study the steady state that results from a balance between coagulation and fragmentation and the impact of particle properties and flow properties on this steady state. We compare two different fragmentation mechanisms, size-limiting fragmentation where particles fragment when exceeding a maximum size and shear fragmentation, where particles break up when local shear forces in the flow exceed the binding force of the particle. For size-limiting fragmentation the steady state is mainly influenced by the maximum stable particle size, while particle and flow properties only influence the approach to the steady state. For shear fragmentation both the approach to the steady state and the steady state itself depend on the particle and flow parameters. There we find scaling relationships between the steady state and the particle and flow parameters that are determined by the stability condition for fragmentation.Comment: 14 pages, 7 figure

Self-induced switchings between multiple space-time patterns on complex networks of excitable units

We report on self-induced switchings between multiple distinct space--time patterns in the dynamics of a spatially extended excitable system. These switchings between low-amplitude oscillations, nonlinear waves, and extreme events strongly resemble a random process, although the system is deterministic. We show that a chaotic saddle -- which contains all the patterns as well as channel-like structures that mediate the transitions between them -- is the backbone of such a pattern switching dynamics. Our analyses indicate that essential ingredients for the observed phenomena are that the system behaves like an inhomogeneous oscillatory medium that is capable of self-generating spatially localized excitations and that is dominated by short-range connections but also features long-range connections. With our findings, we present an alternative to the well-known ways to obtain self-induced pattern switching, namely noise-induced attractor hopping, heteroclinic orbits, and adaptation to an external signal. This alternative way can be expected to improve our understanding of pattern switchings in spatially extended natural dynamical systems like the brain and the heart

Intermittency in delay-coupled FitzHugh–Nagumo oscillators and loss of phase synchrony as its precursor

We study the dynamical properties of in-out intermittency in a system of two identical FitzHugh–Nagumo oscillators coupled by multiple time delays. In this system, the intermittency is manifested as irregular switching between a nearly synchronous state with small and large amplitude chaotic oscillations and a highly asynchronous state with a single large amplitude oscillation. We show that loss of phase synchrony significantly prior to the occurrence of the asynchronous large amplitude oscillation can be used as a precursor to the switching of states in such systems