Synchronization of nonlinearly coupled networks based on circle criterion.

The problem of synchronization in networks of linear systems with nonlinear diffusive coupling and a connected undirected graph is studied. By means of a coordinate transformation, the system is reduced to the form of mean-field dynamics and a synchronization-error system. The network synchronization conditions are established based on the stability conditions of the synchronization-error system obtained using the circle criterion, and the results are used to derive the condition for synchronization in a network of neural-mass-model populations with a connected undirected graph. Simulation examples are presented to illustrate the obtained results.

Prediction of the COVID-19 spread in Russia based on SIR and SEIR models of epidemics.

An attempt is made to use the simplest epidemic models: SIR and SEIR to predict the spread of COVID-19 in Russia. Simplicity and a small number of parameters are very significant advantages of SIR and SEIR models in conditions of a lack of numerical initial data and structural incompleteness of models. The forecast of distribution of COVID-19 in Russia is carried out according to public data sets from March 10 to April 20, 2020. Comparison of forecast results by SIR and SEIR models are given. In both cases, the peak number of infected persons while maintaining the current level of quarantine measures is forecasted at the end of May 2020.

Horizons of cybernetical physics.

The subject and main areas of a new research field-cybernetical physics-are discussed. A brief history of cybernetical physics is outlined. The main areas of activity in cybernetical physics are briefly surveyed, such as control of oscillatory and chaotic behaviour, control of resonance and synchronization, control in thermodynamics, control of distributed systems and networks, quantum control.This article is part of the themed issue 'Horizons of cybernetical physics'.

Dynamics of non-stationary processes that follow the maximum of the Rényi entropy principle.

We propose dynamics equations which describe the behaviour of non-stationary processes that follow the maximum Rényi entropy principle. The equations are derived on the basis of the speed-gradient principle originated in the control theory. The maximum of the Rényi entropy principle is analysed for discrete and continuous cases, and both a discrete random variable and probability density function (PDF) are used. We consider mass conservation and energy conservation constraints and demonstrate the uniqueness of the limit distribution and asymptotic convergence of the PDF for both cases. The coincidence of the limit distribution of the proposed equations with the Rényi distribution is examined.

Adaptive time-delayed stabilization of steady states and periodic orbits.

We derive adaptive time-delayed feedback controllers that stabilize fixed points and periodic orbits. First, we develop an adaptive controller for stabilization of a steady state by applying the speed-gradient method to an appropriate goal function and prove global asymptotic stability of the resulting system. For an example we show that the advantage of the adaptive controller over the nonadaptive one is in a smaller controller gain. Second, we propose adaptive time-delayed algorithms for stabilization of periodic orbits. Their efficiency is confirmed by local stability analysis. Numerical examples demonstrate the applicability of the proposed controllers.

Controlling cluster synchronization by adapting the topology.

We suggest an adaptive control scheme for the control of in-phase and cluster synchronization in delay-coupled networks. Based on the speed-gradient method, our scheme adapts the topology of a network such that the target state is realized. It is robust towards different initial conditions as well as changes in the coupling parameters. The emerging topology is characterized by a delicate interplay of excitatory and inhibitory links leading to the stabilization of the desired cluster state. As a crucial parameter determining this interplay we identify the delay time. Furthermore, we show how to construct networks such that they exhibit not only a given cluster state but also with a given oscillation frequency. We apply our method to coupled Stuart-Landau oscillators, a paradigmatic normal form that naturally arises in an expansion of systems close to a Hopf bifurcation. The successful and robust control of this generic model opens up possible applications in a wide range of systems in physics, chemistry, technology, and life science.

Adaptive synchronization in delay-coupled networks of Stuart-Landau oscillators.

We consider networks of delay-coupled Stuart-Landau oscillators. In these systems, the coupling phase has been found to be a crucial control parameter. By proper choice of this parameter one can switch between different synchronous oscillatory states of the network. Applying the speed-gradient method, we derive an adaptive algorithm for an automatic adjustment of the coupling phase such that a desired state can be selected from an otherwise multistable regime. We propose goal functions based on both the difference of the oscillators and a generalized order parameter and demonstrate that the speed-gradient method allows one to find appropriate coupling phases with which different states of synchronization, e.g., in-phase oscillation, splay, or various cluster states, can be selected.

Synchronization of nonlinear systems under information constraints.

A brief survey of control and synchronization under information constraints (limited information capacity of the coupling channel) is given. Limit possibilities of nonlinear observer-based synchronization systems with first-order coders or full-order coders are considered in more detail. The existing and new theoretical results for multidimensional drive-response Lurie systems (linear part plus nonlinearity depending only on measurable outputs) are presented. It is shown that the upper bound of the limit synchronization error (LSE) is proportional to the upper bound of the transmission error. As a consequence, the upper and lower bounds of LSE are proportional to the maximum coupling signal rate and inversely proportional to the information transmission rate (channel capacity). The analysis is extended to networks having a "chain," "star," or "star-chain" topology. Adaptive chaotic synchronization under information constraints is analyzed. The results are illustrated by example: master-slave synchronization of two chaotic Chua systems coupled via a channel with limited capacity.

Controlled synchronization under information constraints.

A class of controlled synchronization systems under information constraints imposed by limited information capacity of the coupling channel is analyzed. It is shown that the framework proposed by Fradkov, [Phys. Rev. E 73, 066209 (2006)] is suitable not only for observer-based synchronization but also for controlled master-slave synchronization via a communication channel with limited information capacity. A simple first-order coder-decoder scheme is proposed and a theoretical analysis for multidimensional master-slave systems represented in the Lurie form (linear part plus nonlinearity depending only on measurable outputs) is provided. An output feedback control law is proposed based on the passification method. It is shown that for systems with passifiable linear part (satisfying the hyperminimum phase condition) the upper bound of the limiting synchronization error is proportional to the upper bound of the transmission error. As a consequence, both upper and lower bounds of the limiting synchronization error are proportional to the maximum rate of the coupling signal and inversely proportional to the information transmission rate (channel capacity). The results are applied to controlled synchronization of two chaotic Chua systems coupled via a controller and a channel with limited capacity. It is shown by computer simulation that, unlike for the case of observer-based synchronization, the hyperminimum phase property cannot be violated for controlled synchronization.

Yakubovich's oscillatority of circadian oscillations models.

The testing procedure of Yakubovich's oscillatority property is presented. The procedure is applied for two models of circadian oscillations [J.C. Leloup, A. Goldbeter, A model for circadian rhythms in Drosophila incorporating the formation of a complex between the PER and TIM proteins, J. Biol. Rhythms, 13 (1998) 70-87; J.C. Leloup, D. Gonze, A. Goldbeter, Limit cycle models for circadian rhythms based on transcriptional regulation in Drosophila and Neurospora. J. Biol. Rhythms, 14 (1999) 433-448]. Analytical conditions of these models oscillatority are established and bounds on oscillation amplitude are calculated.

Control of chaos: methods and applications in mechanics.

A survey of the field related to control of chaotic systems is presented. Several major branches of research that are discussed are feed-forward ('non-feedback') control (based on periodic excitation of the system), the 'Ott-Grebogi-Yorke method' (based on the linearization of the Poincaré map), the 'Pyragas method' (based on a time-delayed feedback), traditional for control-engineering methods including linear, nonlinear and adaptive control. Other areas of research such as control of distributed (spatio-temporal and delayed) systems, chaotic mixing are outlined. Applications to control of chaotic mechanical systems are discussed.

Chaotic observer-based synchronization under information constraints.

Limitations of observer-based synchronization systems under information constraints (limited information capacity of the coupling channel) are evaluated. We give theoretical analysis for multidimensional drive-response systems represented in the Lurie form (linear part plus nonlinearity depending only on measurable outputs). It is shown that the upper bound of the limit synchronization error (LSE) is proportional to the upper bound of the transmission error. As a consequence, the upper and lower bounds of LSE are proportional to the maximum rate of the coupling signal and inversely proportional to the information transmission rate (channel capacity). Optimality of the binary coding for coders with one-step memory is established. The results are applied to synchronization of two chaotic Chua systems coupled via a channel with limited capacity.