The bistability phenomenon in single and coupled oscillators based on VO$_2$ switches

New operation regimes of single and coupled oscillators in circuits based on planar VO$_2$ switches have been studied. The phenomenon of bistability is discovered, which consists in controlled switching of self-sustained oscillations by external pulses, which is a promising basis for the creation of oscillatory memory cells and implementation of pulse coupling regimes in artificial neural networks (ANNs). The duration of switch-on and switch-off pulses is no less that $\sim$20 $\mu$s and 30 ms, respectively. It is established that the region of threshold voltages for bistable switching in coupled oscillators is much wider than in a single oscillator and the hysteresis width in the former case can reach 2 V. A regime of initiation of switching packets has been observed that models the ANN packet activity.