Enhancing synchronization in complex networks of coupled phase oscillators

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates analytically and through simulations that introducing a gradient in coupling strengths from high-degree to low-degree nodes enhances synchronization in complex networks of coupled phase oscillators, especially in heterogeneous networks.

Contribution

It reveals how a properly directed coupling gradient can improve synchronization onset in non-identical complex networks, a novel approach in network synchronization control.

Findings

Gradient pointing from high-degree to low-degree nodes accelerates synchronization onset.

Heterogeneous networks are more effectively synchronized with the gradient than homogeneous ones.

Simulation results confirm the analytical predictions.

Abstract

By a model of coupled phase oscillators, we show analytically how synchronization in {\em non-identical} complex networks can be enhanced by introducing a proper gradient into the couplings. It is found that, by pointing the gradient from the large-degree to the small-degree nodes on each link, increasing the gradient strength will bring forward the {\em onset} of network synchronization monotonically, and, under the same gradient strength, heterogeneous networks are more synchronizable than homogeneous networks. These findings are verified by extensive simulations.