Quint points lattice in a driven Belousov–Zhabotinsky reaction model

We report the discovery of a regular lattice of exceptional quint points in a periodically driven oscillator, namely, in the frequency–amplitude control parameter space of a photochemically periodically perturbed ruthenium-catalyzed Belousov–Zhabotinsky reaction model. Quint points are singular boundary points where five distinct stable oscillatory phases coalesce. While spikes of the activator show a smooth and continuous variation, the spikes of the inhibitor show an intricate but regular branching into a myriad of stable phases that have fivefold contact points. Such boundary points form a wide parameter lattice as a function of the frequency and amplitude of light absorption. These findings revise current knowledge about the topology of the control parameter space of a celebrated prototypical example of an oscillating chemical reaction.