A Tweezer for Chimeras in Small Networks

TL;DR

This paper introduces a control method to stabilize and position chimera states in small oscillator networks, addressing their typical instability and drift issues, which is useful for experimental realizations.

Contribution

A novel control scheme that stabilizes and fixes chimera states in small networks, enabling better observation and manipulation in experimental settings.

Findings

Control scheme successfully stabilizes chimera states.

It prevents drifting of incoherent domains.

Applicable to small oscillator networks.

Abstract

We propose a control scheme which can stabilize and fix the position of chimera states in small networks. Chimeras consist of coexisting domains of spatially coherent and incoherent dynamics in systems of nonlocally coupled identical oscillators. Chimera states are generally difficult to observe in small networks due to their short lifetime and erratic drifting of the spatial position of the incoherent domain. The control scheme, like a tweezer, might be useful in experiments, where usually only small networks can be realized.