title: Synchronization as Aggregation: Cluster Kinetics of Pulse-Coupled Oscillators.
abstract: We consider models of identical pulse-coupled oscillators with global interactions. Previous work showed that under certain conditions such systems always end up in sync, but did not quantify how small clusters of synchronized oscillators progressively coalesce into larger ones. Using tools from the study of aggregation phenomena, we obtain exact results for the time-dependent distribution of cluster sizes as the system evolves from disorder to synchrony.
authors: Department of Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA.
authors: Kevin P
authors: KP
authors: O'Keeffe
authors: Department of Physics, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA.
authors: P L
authors: PL
authors: Krapivsky
authors: Department of Mathematics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA.
authors: Steven H
authors: SH
authors: Strogatz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001683:Biological Clocks; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D048888:Fireflies; D007700:Kinetics; D008954:Models, Biological; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010507:Periodicity