Regensburg 2010 – scientific programme

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DY: Fachverband Dynamik und Statistische Physik

DY 30: Posters II

DY 30.18: Poster

Thursday, March 25, 2010, 16:00–18:00, Poster C

Hopf-pitchfork bifurcation as symmetry breaking transition in coupled nonlinear circuits — Martin Heinrich¹, •Thomas Dahms¹, Valentin Flunkert¹, Eckehard Schöll¹, and Stephen W. Teitsworth² — ¹Institut f. Theo. Physik, Sekr. EW 7-1, Technische Universität Berlin, Hardenbergstr. 36, 10623 Berlin, Germany — ²Department of Physics, Duke University, Box 90305, Durham, North Carolina 27708-0305, USA

We investigate the dynamics of two coupled nonlinear circuit elements with a region of negative differential conductance (NDC), for example tunneling diodes. The NDC-elements are connected in series such that a mean-field coupling is observed. Varying the bifurcation parameter leads to a symmetry breaking transition, where a pitchfork bifurcation splits the symmetric branch of fixed points into a branch within the synchronization manifold and two branches outside of the synchronization manifold. Each branch of the pitchfork bifurcation is surrounded by limit cycles, which are generated by a Hopf bifurcation occurring simultaneously with the pitchfork bifurcation. This codimension-two bifurcation can be destroyed by introducing heterogeneity to the system.