title: Route to extreme events in excitable systems.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Theoretical Physics/Complex Systems, ICBM, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky-Straße 9-11, Box 2503, 26111 Oldenburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Rajat
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Karnatak
authors.affiliation: Department of Epileptology, University of Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Straße 25, 53105 Bonn, Germany and Helmholtz Institute for Radiation and Nuclear Physics, University of Bonn, Nussallee 14-16, 53115 Bonn, Germany and Interdisciplinary Center for Complex Systems, University of Bonn, Brühler Straße 7, 53175 Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Gerrit
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ansmann
authors.affiliation: Theoretical Physics/Complex Systems, ICBM, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky-Straße 9-11, Box 2503, 26111 Oldenburg, Germany and Research Center Neurosensory Science, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky-Straße 9-11, 26111 Oldenburg, Germany and Institute for Physical Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742-2431, USA.
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Feudel
authors.affiliation: Department of Epileptology, University of Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Straße 25, 53105 Bonn, Germany and Helmholtz Institute for Radiation and Nuclear Physics, University of Bonn, Nussallee 14-16, 53115 Bonn, Germany and Interdisciplinary Center for Complex Systems, University of Bonn, Brühler Straße 7, 53175 Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lehnertz
mesh_terms: D008962:Models, Theoretical; D017711:Nonlinear Dynamics; D010507:Periodicity