Synchronization transition in the two-dimensional Kuramoto model with dichotomous noise

TL;DR

This study investigates a two-dimensional Kuramoto model with dichotomous noise, revealing a BKT-like transition between ordered and disordered phases, influenced by noise amplitude and correlation time, with implications for understanding nonequilibrium phase transitions.

Contribution

The paper provides the first detailed phase diagram of the 2D Kuramoto model with dichotomous noise, highlighting how noise correlation time affects vortex dynamics and the transition.

Findings

Identifies a BKT-like transition between quasi long-range order and disorder.

Shows finite noise correlation time promotes vortex excitations.

Estimates the critical temperature consistent with equilibrium BKT transition.

Abstract

We numerically study the celebrated Kuramoto model of identical oscillators arranged on the sites of a two-dimensional periodic square lattice and subject to nearest neighbor interactions and dichotomous noise. In the nonequilibrium stationary state attained at long time, the model exhibits a Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless ($BKT$)-like transition between a phase at low noise amplitude characterized by quasi long-range order (critically ordered phase) and algebraic decay of correlations and a phase at high noise amplitude that is characterized by complete disorder and exponential decay of correlations. The interplay between the noise amplitude and the noise correlation time is investigated, and the complete, nonequilibrium stationary-state phase diagram of the model is obtained. We further study the dynamics of a single topological defect for various amplitude and correlation time of the noise. Our analysis reveals that a finite correlation time promotes vortex excitations, thereby lowering the critical noise amplitude of the transition with an increase in correlation time. In the suitable limit, the resulting phase diagram allows to estimate the critical temperature of the equilibrium $BKT$ transition, which is consistent with that obtained from the study of the dynamics in the Gaussian white noise limit.