Noise-Induced Synchronization, Desynchronization, and Clustering in Globally Coupled Nonidentical Oscillators

TL;DR

This paper investigates how correlated noise influences synchronization, desynchronization, and clustering in globally coupled nonidentical oscillators, revealing conditions under which noise promotes or disrupts collective behavior.

Contribution

It introduces a novel estimate for the onset of synchrony considering noise and coupling, and elucidates how different Fourier modes of phase sensitivity affect synchronization and clustering.

Findings

Noise can induce synchronization in nonidentical oscillators.

Higher Fourier modes can lead to desynchronization and clustering.

Noise effects depend on coupling strength, noise intensity, and frequency distribution.

Abstract

We study ensembles of globally coupled, nonidentical phase oscillators subject to correlated noise, and we identify several important factors that cause noise and coupling to synchronize or desychronize a system. By introducing noise in various ways, we find a novel estimate for the onset of synchrony of a system in terms of the coupling strength, noise strength, and width of the frequency distribution of its natural oscillations. We also demonstrate that noise alone is sufficient to synchronize nonidentical oscillators. However, this synchrony depends on the first Fourier mode of a phase-sensitivity function, through which we introduce common noise into the system. We show that higher Fourier modes can cause desychronization due to clustering effects, and that this can reinforce clustering caused by different forms of coupling. Finally, we discuss the effects of noise on an ensemble in which antiferromagnetic coupling causes oscillators to form two clusters in the absence of noise.