Effects of degree-frequency correlations on network synchronization: universality and full phase-locking

Abstract: We introduce a model to study the effect of degree-frequency correlations on synchronization in networks of coupled oscillators. Analyzing this model, we find several remarkable characteristics. We find a stationary synchronized state that is (i) universal, i.e., the degree of synchrony, as measured by a global order parameter, is independent of network topology, and (ii) fully phase-locked, i.e., all oscillators become simultaneously phase-locked despite having different natural frequencies. This state separates qualitatively different behaviors for two other classes of correlations where, respectively, slow and fast oscillators can remain unsynchronized. We close by presenting analysis of the dynamics under arbitrary degree-frequency correlations.