Alexandre Mauroy

Isostables, isochrons, and Koopman spectrum for the action-angle representation of stable fixed point dynamics

Abstract For asymptotically periodic systems, a powerful (phase) reduction of the dynamics is obtained by computing the so-called isochrons, i.e. the sets of points that converge toward the same trajectory on the limit cycle. Motivated by the analysis of excitable systems, a similar reduction has been attempted for non-periodic systems admitting a stable fixed point. In this case, the isochrons can still be defined but they do not capture the asymptotic behavior of the trajectories. Instead, the sets of interest–that we call “isostables”–are defined in the literature as the sets of points that converge toward the same trajectory on a stable slow manifold of the fixed point. However, it turns out that this definition of the isostables holds only for systems with slow–fast dynamics. Also, efficient methods for computing the isostables are missing. The present paper provides a general framework for the definition and the computation of the isostables of stable fixed points, which is based on the spectral properties of the so-called Koopman operator. More precisely, the isostables are defined as the level sets of a particular eigenfunction of the Koopman operator. Through this approach, the isostables are unique and well-defined objects related to the asymptotic properties of the system. Also, the framework reveals that the isostables and the isochrons are two different but complementary notions which define a set of action–angle coordinates for the dynamics. In addition, an efficient algorithm for computing the isostables is obtained, which relies on the evaluation of Laplace averages along the trajectories. The method is illustrated with the excitable FitzHugh–Nagumo model and with the Lorenz model. Finally, we discuss how these methods based on the Koopman operator framework relate to the global linearization of the system and to the derivation of special Lyapunov functions.

Clustering behaviors in networks of integrate-and-fire oscillators

Clustering behavior is studied in a model of integrate-and-fire oscillators with excitatory pulse coupling. When considering a population of identical oscillators, the main result is a proof of global convergence to a phase-locked clustered behavior. The robustness of this clustering behavior is then investigated in a population of nonidentical oscillators by studying the transition from total clustering to the absence of clustering as the group coherence decreases. A robust intermediate situation of partial clustering, characterized by few oscillators traveling among nearly phase-locked clusters, is of particular interest. The analysis complements earlier studies of synchronization in a closely related model.

On the use of Fourier averages to compute the global isochrons of (quasi)periodic dynamics

The concept of isochrons is crucial for the analysis of asymptotically periodic systems. Roughly, isochrons are sets of points that partition the basin of attraction of a limit cycle according to the asymptotic behavior of the trajectories. The computation of global isochrons (in the whole basin of attraction) is however difficult, and the existing methods are inefficient in high-dimensional spaces. In this context, we present a novel (forward integration) algorithm for computing the global isochrons of high-dimensional dynamics, which is based on the notion of Fourier time averages evaluated along the trajectories. Such Fourier averages in fact produce eigenfunctions of the Koopman semigroup associated with the system, and isochrons are obtained as level sets of those eigenfunctions. The method is supported by theoretical results and validated by several examples of increasing complexity, including the 4-dimensional Hodgkin-Huxley model. In addition, the framework is naturally extended to the study of quasiperiodic systems and motivates the definition of generalized isochrons of the torus. This situation is illustrated in the case of two coupled Van der Pol oscillators.

Global Stability Analysis Using the Eigenfunctions of the Koopman Operator

We propose a novel operator-theoretic framework to study global stability of nonlinear systems. Based on the spectral properties of the so-called Koopman operator, our approach can be regarded as a natural extension of classic linear stability analysis to nonlinear systems. The main results establish the (necessary and sufficient) relationship between the existence of specific eigenfunctions of the Koopman operator and the global stability property of hyperbolic fixed points and limit cycles. These results are complemented with numerical methods which are used to estimate the region of attraction of the fixed point or to prove in a systematic way global stability of the attractor within a given region of the state space.

Global parametrization of the invariant manifold defining nonlinear normal modes using the koopman operator

Nonlinear normal modes of vibration have been the focus of many studies during the past years and different characterizations of them have been proposed. The present work focuses on damped systems, and considers nonlinear normal mode motions as trajectories lying on an invariant manifold, following the geometric approach of Shaw and Pierre. We provide a novel characterization of the invariant manifold, that rests on the spectral theory of the Koopman operator. A main advantage of the proposed approach is a global parametrization of the manifold, which avoids folding issues arising with the use of displacement-velocity coordinates.Copyright

Kick synchronization versus diffusive synchronization

The paper provides an introductory discussion about two fundamental models of oscillator synchronization: the (continuous-time) diffusive model, that dominates the mathematical literature on synchronization, and the (hybrid) kick model, that accounts for most popular examples of synchronization, but for which only few theoretical results exist. The paper stresses fundamental differences between the two models, such as the different contraction measures underlying the analysis, as well as important analogies that can be drawn in the limit of weak coupling.

A spectral operator-theoretic framework for global stability

The global description of a nonlinear system through the linear Koopman operator leads to an efficient approach to global stability analysis. In the context of stability analysis, not much attention has been paid to the use of spectral properties of the operator. This paper provides new results on the relationship between the global stability properties of the system and the spectral properties of the Koopman operator. In particular, the results show that specific eigenfunctions capture the system stability and can be used to recover known notions of classical stability theory (e.g. Lyapunov functions, contracting metrics). Finally, a numerical method is proposed for the global stability analysis of a fixed point and is illustrated with several examples.

Properties of isostables and basins of attraction of monotone systems

In this paper, we investigate geometric properties of monotone systems by studying their isostables and basins of attraction. Isostables are boundaries of specific forward-invariant sets defined by the so-called Koopman operator, which provides a linear infinite-dimensional description of a nonlinear system. First, we study the spectral properties of the Koopman operator and the associated semigroup in the context of monotone systems. Our results generalize the celebrated Perron-Frobenius theorem to the nonlinear case and allow us to derive geometric properties of isostables and basins of attraction. Additionally, we show that under certain conditions we can characterize the bounds on the basins of attraction under parametric uncertainty in the vector field. We discuss computational approaches to estimate isostables and basins of attraction and illustrate the results on two and four state monotone systems.

Global Isochrons and Phase Sensitivity of Bursting Neurons

Phase sensitivity analysis is a powerful method for studying (asymptotically periodic) bursting neuron models. One popular way of capturing phase sensitivity is through the computation of isochrons---subsets of the state space that each converge to the same trajectory on the limit cycle. However, the computation of isochrons is notoriously difficult, especially for bursting neuron models. In [W. E. Sherwood and J. Guckenheimer, SIAM J. Appl. Dyn. Syst., 9 (2010), pp. 659--703], the phase sensitivity of the bursting Hindmarsh--Rose model is studied through the use of singular perturbation theory: cross sections of the isochrons of the full system are approximated by those of fast subsystems. In this paper, we complement the previous study, providing a detailed phase sensitivity analysis of the full (three-dimensional) system, including computations of the full (two-dimensional) isochrons. To our knowledge, this is the first such computation for a bursting neuron model. This was made possible thanks to the ...

Global Analysis of a Continuum Model for Monotone Pulse-Coupled Oscillators

We consider a continuum of phase oscillators on the circle interacting through an impulsive instantaneous coupling. In contrast with previous studies on related pulse-coupled models, the stability results obtained in the continuum limit are global. For the nonlinear transport equation governing the evolution of the oscillators, we propose (under technical assumptions) a global Lyapunov function which is induced by a total variation distance between quantile densities. The monotone time evolution of the Lyapunov function completely characterizes the dichotomic behavior of the oscillators: either the oscillators converge in finite time to a synchronous state or they asymptotically converge to an asynchronous state uniformly spread on the circle. The results of the present paper apply to popular phase oscillators models (e.g., the well-known leaky integrate-and-fire model) and show a strong parallel between the analysis of finite and infinite populations. In addition, they provide a novel approach for the (global) analysis of pulse-coupled oscillators.