Dynamics of mobile coupled phase oscillators

We study the transient synchronization dynamics of locally coupled phase oscillators moving on a one-dimensional lattice. Analysis of spatial phase correlation shows that mobility speeds up relaxation of spatial modes and leads to faster synchronization. We show that when mobility becomes sufficiently high, it does not allow spatial modes to form and the population of oscillators behaves like a mean-field system. Estimating the relaxation timescale of the longest spatial mode and comparing it with systems with long-range coupling, we reveal how mobility effectively extends the interaction range. Fil: Uriu, Koichiro. RIKEN Advanced Science Institute. Theoretical Biology Laboratory; Japan; Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics; Alemania; Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems; Alemania; Fil: Ares, Saúl. Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems; Alemania; Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro Nacional de Biotecnología. Logic of Genomic Systems Laboratory; España; Grupo Interdisciplinar de Sistemas Complejos; España; Fil: Oates, Andrew C.. Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics; Alemania; Fil: Morelli, Luis Guillermo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Física de Buenos Aires; Argentina; Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Física; Argentina; Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics; Alemania