title: Spatial patterns of desynchronization bursts in networks.
abstract: We adapt a previous model and analysis method (the master stability function), extensively used for studying the stability of the synchronous state of networks of identical chaotic oscillators, to the case of oscillators that are similar but not exactly identical. We find that bubbling induced desynchronization bursts occur for some parameter values. These bursts have spatial patterns, which can be predicted from the network connectivity matrix and the unstable periodic orbits embedded in the attractor. We test the analysis of bursts by comparison with numerical experiments. In the case that no bursting occurs, we discuss the deviations from the exactly synchronous state caused by the mismatch between oscillators.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Research in Electronics and Applied Physics and Department of Mathematics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA. juanga@math.umd.edu
authors.forename: Juan G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Restrepo
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ott
authors.forename: Brian R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Hunt