Lev Smirnov

We study the dynamics of the ring of identical phase oscillators with nonlinear nonlocal coupling. Using the Ott – Antonsen approach, the problem is formulated as a system of partial derivative equations for the local complex order parameter. In this framework, we investigate the existence and stability of twisted states. Both fully coherent and partially coherent stable twisted states were found (the latter ones for the first time for identical oscillators). We show that twisted states can be stable starting from a certain critical value of the medium length, or on a length segment. The analytical results are confirmed with direct numerical simulations in finite ensembles.

The main goal of this research is to examine any peculiarities and special modes observed in the dynamics of a system of two nonlinearly coupled pendulums. In addition to steady states, an in-phase rotation limit cycle is proved to exist in the system with both damping and constant external force. This rotation mode is numerically shown to become unstable for certain values of the coupling strength. We also present an asymptotic theory developed for an infinitely small dissipation, which explains why the in-phase rotation limit cycle loses its stability. Boundaries of the instability domain mentioned above are found analytically. As a result of numerical studies, a whole range of the coupling parameter values is found for the case where the system has more than one rotation limit cycle. There exist not only a stable in-phase cycle, but also two out-of phase ones: a stable rotation limit cycle and an unstable one. Bistability of the limit periodic mode is, therefore, established for the system of two nonlinearly coupled pendulums. Bifurcations that lead to the appearance and disappearance of the out-ofphase limit regimes are discussed as well.

We consider the effect of an external periodic force on chimera states in the phase oscillator model proposed in [Phys. Rev. Lett, v. 101, 00319007 (2008)]. Using the Ott – Antonsen reduction, the dynamical equations for the global order parameter characterizing the degree of synchronization are constructed. The frequency locking by an external periodic force region is constructed. The possibility of stable chimeras synchronization and unstable chimeras stabilization is established. The instability development of the chimera states leads to the appearance of breather chimeras or complete synchronization.