Chimera State — Two Populations

Abrams–Strogatz (2004) · coexistence of synchrony and incoherence

Parameters

R₁ (pop 1)
R₂ (pop 2)
State
Chimera (2002):
Two identical oscillator populations with asymmetric initial conditions → one synchronizes, one stays incoherent.

Paradox: identical units with identical coupling — yet one group "chooses" chaos. Discovered by Kuramoto & Battogtokh.