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Robust method to identify chimera states

S. Nirmala Jenifer1,2,*, Riccardo Muolo3,4, Paulsamy Muruganandam1,5, and Timoteo Carletti2,†

  • *Contact author: nirmala-jenifer.selvaraj@unamur.be
  • †Contact author: timoteo.carletti@unamur.be
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Phys. Rev. E 114, 034209 – Published 14 September, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/tt2n-wll8

Abstract

Chimera states are one of the most intriguing phenomena in nonlinear dynamics, characterized by the coexistence of coherent and incoherent behavior in systems of coupled identical oscillators. Despite extensive studies and numerous observations in different settings, the development of reliable and systematic methods to classify chimera states and distinguish them from other dynamical patterns remains a challenging task. Existing approaches are often limited in scope and lack robustness. In this work we propose a method based on Fourier analysis combined with statistical classification to identify chimera behavior. The method is applied to a system of topological signals coupled via the Dirac operator, where it successfully captures the rich dynamical regimes exhibited by the model. We demonstrate that the proposed approach is robust with respect to variations in network topology and system parameters. Beyond the specific model considered, the framework provides a general and automated tool for distinguishing different dynamical regimes in complex systems.

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Phys. Rev. E 114, 034209– Published 14 September, 2026
  • Received 23 March 2026
  • Accepted 13 August 2026
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