Volcano transition in a system of generalized Kuramoto oscillators with random frustrated interactions

Abstract

Abstract In a system of heterogeneous (Abelian) Kuramoto oscillators with random or ‘frustrated’ interactions, transitions from states of incoherence to partial synchronization were observed. These so-called volcano transitions are characterized by a change in the shape of a local field distribution and were discussed in connection with an oscillator glass. In this paper, we consider a different class of oscillators, namely a system of (non-Abelian) SU(2)-Lohe oscillators that can also be defined on the 3-sphere, i.e. an oscillator is generalized to be defined as a unit vector in four-dimensional Euclidean space. We demonstrate that such higher-dimensional Kuramoto models with reciprocal and nonreciprocal random interactions represented by a low-rank matrix exhibit a volcano transition as well. We determine the critical coupling strength at which a volcano-like transition occurs, employing an Ott–Antonsen ansatz. Numerical simulations provide additional validations of our analytical findings and reveal the differences in observable collective dynamics prior to and following the transition. Furthermore, we show that a system of unit 3-vector oscillators on the 2-sphere does not possess a volcano transition.