White noise induces transitions between dynamical states in a network of nonlocally coupled birhythmic van der Pol-type systems

A network of coupled birhythmic van der Pol oscillators presents a variety of symmetry breaking phenomena like two-attractor chimera states due to the fact that the coherent and incoherent oscillators evolve in different limit cycles. In the presence of noise one can observe a transition from these states to coherent or incoherent states, passing of course through different other states as the intensity of the noise becomes considerable. We find that noise promotes the disappearance of chimera states (such as solitary states) to give way to incoherent states (such as traveling waves).