Symmetry-broken states on networks of coupled oscillators

Abstract

When identical oscillators are coupled together in a network, dynamical steady states are often assumed to reflect network symmetries. Here we show that alternative persistent states may also exist that break the symmetries of the underlying coupling network. We further show that these symmetry-broken coexistent states are analogous to those dubbed "chimera states," which can occur when identical oscillators are coupled to one another in identical ways.