Third order interactions shift the critical coupling in multidimensional Kuramoto models

Abstract

The study of higher order interactions in the dynamics of Kuramoto oscillators has been a topic of intense recent research. Arguments based on dimensional reduction using the Ott-Antonsen ansatz show that such interactions usually facilitate synchronization, giving rise to bi-stability and hysteresis. Here we show that three body interactions shift the critical coupling for synchronization towards higher values in all dimensions, except D=2, where a cancellation occurs. After the transition, three and four body interactions combine to facilitate synchronization. We show simulations in D=3 and 4 to illustrate the dynamics.