This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from the publisher via the DOI in this record.Coupled phase oscillators model a variety of dynamical phenomena in nature and technological applications. Non-local coupling gives rise to chimera states which are characterized by a distinct part of phase-synchronized oscillators while the remaining ones move incoherently. Here, we apply the idea of control to chimera states: using gradient dynamics to exploit drift of a chimera, it will attain any desired target position. Through control, chimera states become functionally relevant; for example, the controlled position of localized synchrony may encode information and perform computations. Since functional aspects are crucial in (neuro-)biology and technology, the localized synchronization of a chimera state becomes accessible to develop novel applications. Based on gradient dynamics, our control strategy applies to any suitable observable and can be generalized to arbitrary dimensions. Thus, the applicability of chimera control goes beyond chimera states in non-locally coupled systems.CB acknowledges support by NSF grant DMS–
1265253 and partially by BMBF grant 01GQ1005B. The research leading to these results has received funding
from the People Programme (Marie Curie Actions) of the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme
(FP7/2007-2013) under REA grant agreement no. 626111 (CB). The work is part of the Dynamical Systems
Interdisciplinary Network, University of Copenhagen (EAM)
