title: Small chimera states without multistability in a globally delay-coupled network of four lasers.
abstract: We present results obtained for a network of four delay-coupled lasers modeled by Lang-Kobayashi-type equations. We find small chimera states consisting of a pair of synchronized lasers and two unsynchronized lasers. One class of these small chimera states can be understood as intermediate steps on the route from synchronization to desynchronization, and we present the entire chain of bifurcations giving birth to them. This class of small chimeras can exhibit limit-cycle or quasiperiodic dynamics. A second type of small chimera states exists apparently disconnected from any region of synchronization, arising from pair synchronization inside the chaotic desynchronized regime. In contrast to previously reported chimera states in globally coupled networks, we find that the small chimera state is the only stable solution of the system for certain parameter regions; i.e., we do not need to specially prepare initial conditions.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Theoretische Physik, Technische Universität Berlin, 10623 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Röhm
authors.affiliation: Institut für Theoretische Physik, Technische Universität Berlin, 10623 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Fabian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Böhm
authors.affiliation: Institut für Theoretische Physik, Technische Universität Berlin, 10623 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lüdge