Mechanism for Strong Chimeras

TL;DR

This paper uncovers a general physical mechanism explaining the emergence of strong chimera states, where coherence is maintained by incoherence elsewhere, linking these phenomena to noise-induced synchronization.

Contribution

It introduces a universal mechanism for strong chimeras, showing coherence is sustained by incoherence, advancing understanding beyond system-specific analyses.

Findings

Stable strong chimeras arise from coherence maintained by incoherence.

The mechanism is analogous to noise-induced synchronization.

It provides a new interpretation of chimeras as a link between coherence and incoherence.

Abstract

Chimera states have attracted significant attention as symmetry-broken states exhibiting the unexpected coexistence of coherence and incoherence. Despite the valuable insights gained from analyzing specific systems, an understanding of the general physical mechanism underlying the emergence of chimeras is still lacking. Here, we show that many stable chimeras arise because coherence in part of the system is sustained by incoherence in the rest of the system. This mechanism may be regarded as a deterministic analog of noise-induced synchronization and is shown to underlie the emergence of strong chimeras. These are chimera states whose coherent domain is formed by identically synchronized oscillators. Recognizing this mechanism offers a new meaning to the interpretation that chimeras are a natural link between coherence and incoherence.