Onset of synchronization in contrarians with higher-order interactions

TL;DR

This paper explores how multilayer networks with higher-order interactions influence the onset of synchronization in systems with contrarians, revealing critical thresholds and phase transition behaviors.

Contribution

It demonstrates that multilayering and higher-order interactions critically affect synchronization onset and phase transition nature in contrarian oscillator networks.

Findings

Synchronization onset is facilitated by multilayering.

Critical coupling depends on higher-order interaction strength.

Numerical results match analytical predictions.

Abstract

We investigate the impact of contrarians (via negative coupling) in a multilayer network of phase oscillators having higher-order interactions. We show that the multilayer framework facilitates synchronization onset in the negative pairwise coupling regime. The multilayering strength governs the onset of synchronization and the nature of the phase transition, whereas the backward critical couplings depend on higher-order interaction strength. The system does not synchronize below a critical value of multilayering strength. The numerical results agree with the analytical predictions using the Ott-Antonsen approach. The results presented here may be useful for understanding emergent behaviors in real-world complex systems with contrarians and higher-order interactions, such as the brain and society.