Mixed-mode Oscillations Research Articles

Characterising the dynamic behaviour of two-well oscillators excited at low frequency: Numerical insights

It is shown in this paper that the harmonically excited two-well bistable oscillator, for which the excitation frequency is definitionally low, exhibits bursting oscillations for low values of damping and relaxation oscillations for high damping values. It is also shown that the region for mixed-mode oscillations can extend for increasing value of the nonlinear coefficient. The paper examines the thresholding cases for transitions between such regimes by means of bifurcation analysis within a parametric study specifically designed to prioritise the phenomenology present at low excitation frequencies.

Mixed-Mode Oscillations in Nonautonomous Modified Chua’s Circuit

A nonautonomous system revised from Chua’s circuit with a cubic nonlinearity which could exhibit slow-fast effect is investigated in this paper. Inspired by slow-fast dynamical analysis, the external excitation is considered as a modulation parameter, which changes slowly and periodically. By introducing “transformed phase space,” bifurcation analysis of typical periodic mixed-mode oscillations induced by periodic excitation has been described to reveal the associated dynamical mechanisms.

Nonchaos-Mediated Mixed-Mode Oscillations in an Enzyme Reaction System.

We report numerical evidence of a new type of wide-ranging organization of mixed-mode oscillations (MMOs) in a model of the peroxidase-oxidase reaction, in the control parameter plane defined by the supply of the reactant NADH and the pH of the medium. In classic MMOs, the intervals of distinct periodic oscillations are always separated from each other by windows of chaos. In contrast, in the new unfolding, such windows of chaos do not exist. Chaos-mediated and nonchaos-mediated MMO phases are separated by a continuous transition boundary in the control parameter plane. In addition, for low pH values, we find an exceptionally wide and intricate mosaic of MMO phases that is described by a detailed phase diagram.

Mixed mode oscillations in a conceptual climate model

Much work has been done on relaxation oscillations and other simple oscillators in conceptual climate models. However, the oscillatory patterns in climate data are often more complicated than what can be described by such mechanisms. This paper examines complex oscillatory behavior in climate data through the lens of mixed-mode oscillations. As a case study, a conceptual climate model with governing equations for global mean temperature, atmospheric carbon, and oceanic carbon is analyzed. The nondimensionalized model is a fast/slow system with one fast variable (corresponding to ice volume) and two slow variables (corresponding to the two carbon stores). Geometric singular perturbation theory is used to demonstrate the existence of a folded node singularity. A parameter regime is found in which (singular) trajectories that pass through the folded node are returned to the singular funnel in the limiting case where ϵ=0. In this parameter regime, the model has a stable periodic orbit of type 1s for some s>0. To our knowledge, it is the first conceptual climate model demonstrated to have the capability to produce an MMO pattern.

Voltage dependence of Hodgkin-Huxley rate functions for a multistage K^{+} channel voltage sensor within a membrane.

The activation of a K^{+} channel sensor in two sequential stages during a voltage clamp may be described as the translocation of a Brownian particle in an energy landscape with two large barriers between states. A solution of the Smoluchowski equation for a square-well approximation to the potential function of the S4 voltage sensor satisfies a master equation and has two frequencies that may be determined from the forward and backward rate functions. When the higher-frequency terms have small amplitude, the solution reduces to the relaxation of a rate equation, where the derived two-state rate functions are dependent on the relative magnitude of the forward rates (α and γ) and the backward rates (β and δ) for each stage. In particular, the voltage dependence of the Hodgkin-Huxley rate functions for a K^{+} channel may be derived by assuming that the rate functions of the first stage are large relative to those of the second stage-α≫γ and β≫δ. For a Shaker IR K^{+} channel, the first forward and backward transitions are rate limiting (α<γ and δ≪β), and for an activation process with either two or three stages, the derived two-state rate functions also have a voltage dependence that is of a similar form to that determined for the squid axon. The potential variation generated by the interaction between a two-stage K^{+} ion channel and a noninactivating Na^{+} ion channel is determined by the master equation for K^{+} channel activation and the ionic current equation when the Na^{+} channel activation time is small, and if β≪δ and α≪γ, the system may exhibit a small amplitude oscillation between spikes, or mixed-mode oscillation, in which the slow closed state modulates the K^{+} ion channel conductance in the membrane.

Spatiotemporal behavior induced by differential diffusion in Landolt systems.

The spatiotemporal dynamics of Landolt type reactions, for instance reactions between sulfite ions and strong oxidants, performed in a medium fed by the diffusion from a boundary is investigated numerically by using a simple general reaction scheme. In these conditions, the model can generate various spatiotemporal phenomena, e.g., spatial bistability, simple and complex oscillations, birhythmicity, and chaos, even though in a spatially homogeneous open reactor only steady-state bistability can develop. The model consists of two reactions, a protonation equilibrium of the reductant and an oxidation step that is autoactivated by hydrogen ions. The rich dynamics is the result of two factors: (i) long-range activation, through the rapidly diffusing hydrogen ions, (ii) the presence of two parallel autocatalytic pathways. Long range activation provides the necessary negative feedback, whereas the dual nature of the autocatalysis leads to the appearance of two different oscillatory modes. The presence of a second-order term in the rate law of the autocatalytic reaction is linked to a large amplitude oscillations that affect the system as a whole, whereas the third-order one gives rise to localized front oscillations. The complex phenomena, like mixed mode and chaotic oscillations are observed at the meeting of these different oscillatory modes.

Complex reaction dynamics in the cerium-bromate-2-methyl-1,4-hydroquinone photoreaction.

Spontaneous oscillations with a long induction time were observed in the bromate-2-methyl-1,4-hydroquinone photoreaction in a batch reactor, where removal of illumination effectively quenched any reactivity. A substantial lengthening of the oscillatory window and a dramatic increase in the complexity of the reaction behavior arose upon the addition of cerium ions, in which separate bifurcation regions and mixed mode oscillations were present. The complexity has a strong dependence on the intensity of illumination supplied to the system and on the initial concentrations of the reactants. (1)H NMR spectroscopy measurements show that the photoreduction of 2-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone leads to the formation of 2-methyl-1,4-hydroquinone and the compound 2-hydroxy-3-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone. Spectroscopic investigation also indicates that the presence of methyl group hinders the bromination of the studied organic substrate 2-methyl-1,4-hydroquinone, resulting in the formation of 2-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone.

Mechanism and function of mixed-mode oscillations in vibrissa motoneurons.

Vibrissa motoneurons in the facial nucleus innervate the intrinsic and extrinsic muscles that move the whiskers. Their intrinsic properties affect the way they process fast synaptic input from the vIRT and Bötzinger nuclei together with serotonergic neuromodulation. In response to constant current (I app) injection, vibrissa motoneurons may respond with mixed mode oscillations (MMOs), in which sub-threshold oscillations (STOs) are intermittently mixed with spikes. This study investigates the mechanisms involved in generating MMOs in vibrissa motoneurons and their function in motor control. It presents a conductance-based model that includes the M-type K+ conductance, g M, the persistent Na+ conductance, g NaP, and the cationic h conductance, g h. For g h = 0 and moderate values of g M and g NaP, the model neuron generates STOs, but not MMOs, in response to I app injection. STOs transform abruptly to tonic spiking as the current increases. In addition to STOs, MMOs are generated for g h>0 for larger values of I app; the I app range in which MMOs appear increases linearly with g h. In the MMOs regime, the firing rate increases with I app like a Devil's staircase. Stochastic noise disrupts the temporal structure of the MMOs, but for a moderate noise level, the coefficient of variation (CV) is much less than one and varies non-monotonically with I app. Furthermore, the estimated time period between voltage peaks, based on Bernoulli process statistics, is much higher in the MMOs regime than in the tonic regime. These two phenomena do not appear when moderate noise generates MMOs without an intrinsic MMO mechanism. Therefore, and since STOs do not appear in spinal motoneurons, the analysis can be used to differentiate different MMOs mechanisms. MMO firing activity in vibrissa motoneurons suggests a scenario in which moderate periodic inputs from the vIRT and Bötzinger nuclei control whisking frequency, whereas serotonergic neuromodulation controls whisking amplitude.

Route to extreme events in excitable systems.

Systems of FitzHugh-Nagumo units with different coupling topologies are capable of self-generating and -terminating strong deviations from their regular dynamics that can be regarded as extreme events due to their rareness and recurrent occurrence. Here we demonstrate the crucial role of an interior crisis in the emergence of extreme events. In parameter space we identify this interior crisis as the organizing center of the dynamics by employing concepts of mixed-mode oscillations and of leaking chaotic systems. We find that extreme events occur in certain regions in parameter space, and we show the robustness of this phenomenon with respect to the system size.

Quasi-static transient and mixed mode oscillations induced by fractional derivatives effect on the slow flow near folded singularity

This paper aims at offering an insight into the dynamical behaviors of incommensurate fractional-order singularly perturbed van der Pol oscillators subjected to constant forcing, especially when the forcing is close to Andronov–Hopf bifurcation points. These bifurcation points are predicted thanks to the theorem on stability of incommensurate fractional-order systems, as functions of the forcing and fractional derivative orders. When the forcing is chosen near Andronov–Hopf bifurcation, the dynamics of fractional-order systems show a static-looking transient regime whose length increases exponentially with the closeness to the bifurcation point. This peculiar phenomenon is not common in numerical simulation of dynamical systems. We show that this quasi-static transient behavior is due to the combine action of the slow passage effect at folded saddle-node singularity and fractional derivation memory effect on the slow flow around this singularity; this forces the system to remain for a long time in the vicinity of its equilibrium point, though unstable. The system frees oneself from this quasi-static transient state by spiraling before entering relaxation oscillation. Such a situation results in mixed mode oscillations in the oscillatory regime. One obtains mixed mode oscillations from a very simple system: A two-variable system subjected to constant forcing.

Memristive circuits with steady‐state mixed‐mode oscillations

Two dual memristive circuits are presented, the steady-state responses of which are periodic sequences of mixed-mode oscillations (MMOs) of type L 1 S1 L 2 S2 ... L n sn where L k and s k are integers for k = 1, 2, ...n . The L k and s k are the numbers of large- and small-amplitude oscillations, or LAOs and SAOs, respectively. This new feature of memristive circuits is illustrated through several MMO responses, all with the pinched hysteresis characteristics for both LAOs and SAOs. The mode-locking phenomenon for MMOs is also discussed. The MMO sequences depend on initial conditions and parameters of the circuits.

Novel type of chimera spiral waves arising from decoupling of a diffusible component.

Spiral waves composed of coherent traveling waves surrounding a core containing stochastically distributed stationary areas are found in numerical simulations of a three-variable reaction-diffusion system with one diffusible species. In the spiral core, diffusion of this component (w) mediates transitions between dynamic states of the subsystem formed by the other two components, whose dynamics is more rapid than that of w. Diffusive coupling between adjacent sites can be "on" or "off" depending on the subsystem state. The incoherent structures in the spiral core are produced by this decoupling of the slow diffusive component from the fast non-diffusing subsystem. The phase diagram reveals that the region of incoherent behavior in chimera spirals grows drastically, leading to modulation and breakup of the spirals, in the transition zones between 1(n-1) and 1(n) local mixed-mode oscillations.

Weakly coupled two-slow–two-fast systems, folded singularities and mixed mode oscillations

We study mixed mode oscillations (MMOs) in systems of two weakly coupled slow/fast oscillators. We focus on the existence and properties of a folded singularity, called folded saddle node of type II (FSN II), that allows the emergence of MMOs in the presence of a suitable global return mechanism. As FSN II corresponds to a transcritical bifurcation for a desingularized reduced system, we prove that, under certain non-degeneracy conditions, such a transcritical bifurcation exists. We then apply this result to the case of two coupled systems of FitzHugh–Nagumo type. This leads to a non-trivial condition on the coupling that enables the existence of MMOs.

Multiparameter bifurcations and mixed-mode oscillations in Q-switched CO2 lasers.

We study the origin of mixed-mode oscillations and related bifurcations in a fully molecular laser model that describes CO2 monomode lasers with a slow saturable absorber. Our study indicates that the presence of isolas of periodic mixed-mode oscillations, as the pump parameter and the cavity-frequency detuning change, is inherent to Q-switched CO2 monomode lasers. We compare this model, known as the dual four-level model, to the more conventional 3:2 model and to a CO2 laser model for fast saturable absorbers. In these models, we find similarities as well as qualitative differences, such as the different nature of the homoclinic tangency to a relevant unstable periodic orbit, where the Gavrilov-Shilnikov theory and its extensions may hold. We also show that there are isolas of periodic mixed-mode oscillations in a model for CO2 lasers with modulated losses, as the pump parameter varies. The coarse-grained bifurcation diagrams of the periodic mixed-mode oscillations in these models suggest that these oscillations belong to similar classes.

Study of mixed-mode oscillations in a parametrically excited van der Pol system

This paper investigates the effects of slowly varying parametric excitation on the dynamics of van der Pol system. Periodic bifurcation delay behaviors are exhibited when the parametric excitation slowly passes through Hopf bifurcation value of the controlled van der Pol system. The first bifurcation delay behavior relies on initial conditions, while the bifurcation delay behaviors that follow the first one are immune to initial conditions. These bifurcation delay behaviors result in a hysteresis loop between the spiking attractor and the rest state, which is responsible for the generation of mixed-mode oscillations. Then an approximate calculation for the number of spikes in each cluster of repetitive spiking of mixed-mode oscillations is explored based on bifurcation delay behaviors. Theoretical results agree well with numerical simulations.

Dynamics of a driven magneto-martensitic ribbon

We investigate the dynamics of a sinusoidally driven ferromagnetic martensitic ribbon by adopting a recently introduced model that involves strain and magnetization as order parameters. Retaining only the dominant mode of excitation we reduce the coupled set of partial differential equations for strain and magnetization to a set of coupled ordinary nonlinear equations for the strain and magnetization amplitudes. The equation for the strain amplitude takes the form of parametrically driven oscillator. Finite strain amplitude can only be induced beyond a critical value of the strength of the magnetic field. Chaotic response is seen for a range of values of all the physically interesting parameters. The nature of the bifurcations depends on the choice of temperature relative to the ordering of the Curie and the martensite transformation temperatures. We have studied the nature of response as a function of the strength and frequency of the magnetic field, and magneto-elastic coupling. In general, the bifurcation diagrams with respect to these parameters do not follow any standard route. The rich dynamics exhibited by the model is further illustrated by the presence of mixed mode oscillations seen for low frequencies. The geometric structure of the mixed mode oscillations in the phase space has an unusual deep crater structure with an outer and inner cone on which the orbits circulate. We suggest that these features should be seen in experiments on driven magneto-martensitic ribbons.

Robust Synchronization of Light-Emitting Diodes Networks via Sliding Mode Control

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are ideal candidates for the implementation of a complex network on a chip. Recent studies have demonstrated that LEDs with optoelectronic feedback loop display complex sequences of periodic mixed mode oscillations and chaotic spiking. In this paper, we propose a sliding mode control scheme for synchronization of coupled LEDs networks. Based on Lyapunov stability theory, the controller can stabilize the synchronization error dynamics around the origin point, thus robust synchronization can be obtained. A numerical example is given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme.

Mixed mode oscillations in the Bonhoeffer-van der Pol oscillator with weak periodic perturbation

Following the paper of Shimizu et al. (Phys Lett A 375:1566, 2011), we consider the Bonhoeffer-van der Pol oscillator with non-autonomous periodic perturbation. We show that the presence of mixed mode oscillations reported in that paper can be explained using the geometric singular perturbation theory. The considered model can be re-written as a four-dimensional (locally three-dimensional) autonomous system, which under certain conditions has a folded saddle-node singularity and additionally can be treated as a three time scale one.

Mixed-mode bursting oscillations: Dynamics created by a slow passage through spike-adding canard explosion in a square-wave burster

This article concerns the phenomenon of Mixed-Mode Bursting Oscillations (MMBOs). These are solutions of fast-slow systems of ordinary differential equations that exhibit both small-amplitude oscillations (SAOs) and bursts consisting of one or multiple large-amplitude oscillations (LAOs). The name MMBO is given in analogy to Mixed-Mode Oscillations, which consist of alternating SAOs and LAOs, without the LAOs being organized into burst events. In this article, we show how MMBOs are created naturally in systems that have a spike-adding bifurcation or spike-adding mechanism, and in which the dynamics of one (or more) of the slow variables causes the system to pass slowly through that bifurcation. Canards are central to the dynamics of MMBOs, and their role in shaping the MMBOs is two-fold: saddle-type canards are involved in the spike-adding mechanism of the underlying burster and permit one to understand the number of LAOs in each burst event, and folded-node canards arise due to the slow passage effect and control the number of SAOs. The analysis is carried out for a prototypical fourth-order system of this type, which consists of the third-order Hindmarsh-Rose system, known to have the spike-adding mechanism, and in which one of the key bifurcation parameters also varies slowly. We also include a discussion of the MMBO phenomenon for the Morris-Lecar-Terman system. Finally, we discuss the role of the MMBOs to a biological modeling of secreting neurons.

Mixed-mode oscillations and chaotic solutions of jerk (Newtonian) equations

We analyze jerk equations (third-order ODEs) resulting from an underlying prototypical model of mixed-mode oscillations and propose their circuit realizations in this paper. The scalar ODEs and their corresponding circuit realizations are obtained from a system of first-order ODEs with one nonlinearity (third-degree polynomial). One of the jerk equations is Newtonian as it is obtained by computing the time-derivative of the second Newton’s law x″−F/m=0 for a constant mass m and specially designed nonlinear force function F(x,x′,τ). The second jerk equation is non-Newtonian. The two circuits are op-amp RC circuits with interesting dynamical properties, including the mixed-mode and chaotic oscillations. The mixed-mode oscillations follow the rules of Farey arithmetic and the circuits’ dynamics is of a fractal nature.