Synchronization of a nonlinear oscillator with a sum signal from equivalent oscillators

Coupling of chaotic oscillators has evidenced conditions where synchronization is possible, therefore a nonlinear system can be driven to a particular state through input from a similar oscillator. Here we expand this concept of control of the operational state of a nonlinear oscillator by showing that it is possible to induce nonlinear systems to follow a linear superposition of trajectories of two (or more) equivalent systems, using only partial information from them. We show that the trajectory of the receiving oscillator converges to that of the sum of the two (or more) drivers. These results are demonstrated through experimental realization in electronic circuits and numerical simulations, and analysed through calculations of transverse Lyapunov exponents. These behaviors are observed in known nonlinear systems, opening the way for improving description and control of complex systems.