arXiv2026
Chimera states, characterized by the coexistence of coherent and incoherent dynamics, are a hallmark of symmetry-breaking phenomena in networks of coupled oscillators. Here, we investigate the role of higher-order interactions in the emergence of chimera states in wheel networks of Rössler and Lorenz oscillators with pairwise and higher-order interactions under diffusive, conjugate, and mean-field diffusive coupling. Using multiple random initial conditions, we quantify the prevalence of synchronized, desynchronized, chimera, and synchronized cluster states. Chimera states emerge across all three coupling mechanisms as symmetry-broken states among the structurally and dynamically equivalent peripheral oscillators. Higher-order interactions substantially reorganize the dynamical landscape; in particular, they shift chimera states toward weaker pairwise coupling under diffusive coupling, predominantly support them at moderate coupling strengths under conjugate coupling, and yield comparatively less prevalent chimera states under mean-field diffusive coupling. These effects depend strongly on the intrinsic oscillator dynamics, particularly at larger higher-order coupling strengths. Overall, higher-order interactions neither universally promote nor suppress chimera states; rather, their influence is governed by the interplay between network symmetry, coupling mechanism, and intrinsic oscillator dynamics. The observed collective states are quantitatively characterized using two proposed statistical measures, while master-stability-function analysis provides a stability-based explanation for the loss of complete synchronization and the emergence of nonsynchronous dynamical regimes.