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Pacemaker-induced spiral wave chimeras on a sphere of delay-coupled oscillators: Switching between different
Chol-Ung Choe1, Ryong-Son Kim1, Jin-Song Kang1
1University of Science, Research Group for Nonlinear Dynamics, Department of Physics, Unjong-District, Pyongyang, Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Physical Review. E
|July 24, 2026
Summary
External pacemakers can induce spiral wave chimeras in coupled oscillators. This phenomenon, characterized by phase kinks, emerges from a homogeneous state and is controllable by adjusting pacemaker properties.
Area of Science:
- Nonlinear Dynamics
- Complex Systems
- Coupled Oscillator Systems
Background:
- Two-dimensional systems of nonlocally coupled oscillators can exhibit spiral wave chimeras.
- These chimeras display synchronized spiral regions alongside desynchronized cores.
- Biological pacemakers entrain cells, generating regular rhythmic patterns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the emergence of spiral chimeras from spatially homogeneous states.
- To explore the role of an external pacemaker in generating complex spatiotemporal patterns.
- To analyze the dynamics and control of kink-spiral chimeras in coupled oscillators.
Main Methods:
- Simulations of all-to-all coupled oscillators with distance-dependent time delays.
- Analysis of both pure-phase and amplitude-phase oscillator systems.
- Investigation of the Arnold tongue structure in phase oscillator systems.
Main Results:
- Spiral chimeras emerge from a homogeneous state when driven by an external pacemaker.
- Emergent chimeras exhibit unique dynamics with phase kinks on spiral arms.
- Kink-spiral chimera states are observed in both phase and amplitude-phase oscillators.
- Pacemaker forcing strength and frequency allow switching between chimera types.
- Resonant interplay between pacemaker frequency and time delay governs chimera formation.
Conclusions:
- External pacemakers can induce complex spatiotemporal patterns like spiral wave chimeras.
- The dynamics of these chimeras, featuring phase kinks, are controllable.
- This work advances understanding of coupled oscillator systems and external driver influences.
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