We explore the dynamics of a group of unconnected chaotic relaxation oscillators realized by mercury beating heart systems, coupled to a markedly different common external chaotic system realized by an electronic circuit. Counter-intuitively, we find that this single dissimilar chaotic oscillator manages to effectively steer the group of oscillators on to steady states, when the coupling is sufficiently strong. We further verify this unusual observation in numerical simulations of model relaxation oscillator systems mimicking this interaction through coupled differential equations. Interestingly, the ensemble of oscillators is suppressed most efficiently when coupled to a completely dissimilar chaotic external system, rather than to a regular external system or an external system identical to those of the group. So this experimentally demonstrable controllability of groups of oscillators via a distinct external system indicates a potent control strategy. It also illustrates the general principle that symmetry in the emergent dynamics may arise from asymmetry in the constituent systems, suggesting that diversity or heterogeneity may have a crucial role in aiding regularity in interactive systems.

我们探索了一组由水银跳动的心脏系统实现的未连接的混沌弛豫振荡器的动力学，耦合到由电子电路实现的明显不同的常见外部混沌系统。与直觉相反，我们发现当耦合足够强时，这个单一的不同混沌振荡器设法有效地将一组振荡器引导到稳态。我们在通过耦合微分方程模拟这种相互作用的模型弛豫振荡器系统的数值模拟中进一步验证了这种不寻常的观察结果。有趣的是，当耦合到完全不同的混沌外部系统时，振荡器的集合最有效地被抑制，而不是耦合到常规外部系统或与该组相同的外部系统。因此，通过不同的外部系统，这种通过实验证明的振荡器组的可控性表明了一种有效的控制策略。它还说明了涌现动力学中的对称性可能源于组成系统中的不对称性的一般原则，这表明多样性或异质性可能在促进交互系统的规律性方面发挥关键作用。