Synchronizability of two-layer correlation networks

This study investigates the synchronizability of a typical type of two-layer correlation networks formed by two regular networks interconnected with two interlayer linking patterns, namely, positive correlation (PC) and negative correlation (NC). To analyze the network's stability, we consider the analytical expressions of the smallest non-zero and largest eigenvalues of the (weighted) Laplacian matrix as well as the linking strength and the network size for two linking patterns. According to the master stability function, the linking patterns, the linking strength, and the network size associated with two typical synchronized regions exhibit a profound influence on the synchronizability of the two-layer networks. The NC linking pattern displays better synchronizability than the PC linking pattern with the same set of parameters. Furthermore, for the two classical synchronized regions, the networks have optimal intralayer and interlayer linking strengths that maximize the synchronizability while minimizing the required cost. Finally, numerical results verify the validity of the theoretical analyses. The findings based on the representative two-layer correlation networks provide the basis for maximizing the synchronizability of general multiplex correlation networks.