title: Local synchronization in complex networks of coupled oscillators.
abstract: We investigate the effects that network topology, natural frequency distribution, and system size have on the path to global synchronization as the overall coupling strength between oscillators is increased in a Kuramoto network. In particular, we study the scenario recently found by Gómez-Gardeñes et al. [Phys. Rev. E 73, 056124 (2006)] in which macroscopic global synchronization emerges through a process whereby many small synchronized clusters form, grow, and merge, eventually leading to a macroscopic giant synchronized component. Our main result is that this scenario is robust to an increase in the number of oscillators or a change in the distribution function of the oscillators' natural frequencies, but becomes less prominent as the number of links per oscillator increases.
authors: Department of Physics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA. jestout@ncsu.edu
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Stout
authors: Matthew
authors: M
authors: Whiteway
authors: Edward
authors: E
authors: Ott
authors: Michelle
authors: M
authors: Girvan
authors: Thomas M
authors: TM
authors: Antonsen