Experimental signatures of chimera states in non-locally coupled boolean phase oscillators
Abstract
Chimera states in dynamical networks have been found recently in several experiments using chemical, optical, and mechanical systems. However, most of these experiments still involve a computer to mediate the network coupling or rely on rather simple network topologies. Here, we overcome these limitations with novel Boolean realizations of coupled oscillators termed Boolean phase oscillators that are realized experimentally with embedded logic circuits. They include state-dependent delay, which allows weak phase adjustments when subject to coupling from neighboring nodes [1]. Using a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), we implement a ring of 100 non-locally coupled Boolean phase oscillators and measure experimentally frequency and phase in the network. We observe typical experimental signatures of chimera states, where parts of the network are synchronized and other parts are desynchronized.