Abnormal route to aging transition in a network of coupled oscillators

In this article, we investigate the dynamical robustness in a network of Van der Pol oscillators. In particular, we consider a network of diffusively coupled Van der Pol oscillators to explore the aging transition phenomena. Our investigation reveals that the route to aging transition in a network of Van der Pol oscillator is different from that of typical sinusoidal oscillators such as Stuart-Landau oscillators. Unlike sinusoidal oscillators, the order parameter does not follow smooth second-order phase transition. Rather, we observe an abnormal phase transition of the order parameter due to the sudden appearance of unbounded trajectories at a critical point. We provide detailed bifurcation analysis of such an abnormal phase transition. We show that the boundary crisis of a limit-cycle oscillator is at the helm of such an unusual discontinuous path of aging transition.