Extreme Synchronization Transitions

TL;DR

This paper uncovers a new class of synchronization transitions in coupled oscillators that occur abruptly in finite systems, characterized by a jump in the order parameter near perfect synchronization, with implications for natural and engineered systems.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of extreme synchronization transitions, explaining their mechanisms analytically and highlighting their occurrence in finite systems unlike traditional phase transitions.

Findings

Transitions occur in finite systems, not just in the thermodynamic limit.

Order parameter jumps from ~N^{-1/2} to near 1 at critical coupling.

Mechanisms are analytically explained for coupled Kuramoto oscillators.

Abstract

Across natural and human-made systems, transition points mark sudden changes of order and are thus key to understanding overarching system features. Motivated by recent experimental observations, we here uncover an intriguing class of transitions in coupled oscillators, extreme synchronization transitions, from asynchronous disordered states to synchronous states with almost completely ordered phases. Whereas such a transition appears like discontinuous or explosive phase transitions, it exhibits markedly distinct features. First, the transition occurs already in finite systems of $N$ units and so constitutes an intriguing bifurcation of multi-dimensional systems rather than a genuine phase transition that emerges in the thermodynamic limit $N\rightarrow \infty$ only. Second, the synchronization order parameter jumps from moderate values of the order of $N^{-1/2}$ to values extremely close to $1$, its theoretical maximum, immediately upon crossing a critical coupling strength. We analytically explain the mechanisms underlying such extreme transitions in coupled complexified Kuramoto oscillators. Extreme transitions may similarly occur across other systems of coupled oscillators as well as in certain percolation processes. In applications, their occurrence impacts our ability of ensuring or preventing strong forms of ordering, for instance in biological and engineered systems.