Synchronization of frustrated phase oscillators in the small-world networks

Abstract

We numerically study the synchronization of an identical population of Kuramoto-Sakaguchi phase oscillators in Watts-Strogatz networks. We find that, unlike random networks, phase-shift could enhance the synchronization in small-world networks. We also observe abrupt phase transition with hysteresis at some values of phase shifts in small-world networks, signs of an explosive phase transition. Moreover, we report the emergence of Chimera states at some values of phase-shift close to the transition points, which consist of spatially coexisting synchronized and desynchronized domains.