We consider a generalization of the Kuramoto model of coupled oscillators to the situation where communities of oscillators having essentially different natural frequencies interact. General equations describing possible resonances between the communities’ frequencies are derived. The simplest situation of three resonantly interacting groups is analyzed in detail. We find conditions for the mutual coupling to promote or suppress synchrony in individual populations and present examples where the interaction between communities leads to their synchrony or to a partially asynchronous state or to a chaotic dynamics of order parameters.

• Received 19 December 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.110.134101