Symmetry-breaking rhythms in coupled, identical fast–slow oscillators

Abstract

Symmetry-breaking in coupled, identical, fast–slow systems produces a rich, dramatic variety of dynamical behavior—such as amplitudes and frequencies differing by an order of magnitude or more and qualitatively different rhythms between oscillators, corresponding to different functional states. We present a novel method for analyzing these systems. It identifies the key geometric structures responsible for this new symmetry-breaking, and it shows that many different types of symmetry-breaking rhythms arise robustly. We find symmetry-breaking rhythms in which one oscillator exhibits small-amplitude oscillations, while the other exhibits phase-shifted small-amplitude oscillations, large-amplitude oscillations, mixed-mode oscillations, or even undergoes an explosion of limit cycle canards. Two prototypical fast–slow systems illustrate the method: the van der Pol equation that describes electrical circuits and the Lengyel–Epstein model of chemical oscillators.