Phase synchronization and topological defects in inhomogeneous media

TL;DR

This paper studies how topological defects affect phase synchronization in 2D arrays of chaotic oscillators, showing defects disrupt synchronization but strong coupling can maintain coherence, suggesting a need to revise synchronization concepts in higher dimensions.

Contribution

It demonstrates the impact of topological defects on phase synchronization and proposes modifications to the synchronization concept for inhomogeneous media with defects.

Findings

Defects cause local breakdown of phase synchronization.

Strong coupling maintains phase coherence despite defects.

Topological defects are common in higher-dimensional systems.

Abstract

The influence of topological defects on phase synchronization and phase coherence in two-dimensional arrays of locally-coupled, nonidentical, chaotic oscillators is investigated. The motion of topological defects leads to a breakdown of phase synchronization in the vicinities of the defects; however, the system is much more phase coherent as long as the coupling between the oscillators is strong enough to prohibit the continuous dynamical creation and annihilation of defects. The generic occurrence of topological defects in two and higher dimensions implies that the concept of phase synchronization has to be modified for these systems.