Phase transitions on a multiplex of swarmalators

Dynamics of bidirectionally coupled swarmalators subject to attractive and repulsive couplings is analyzed. The probability of two elements in different layers being connected strongly depends on a defined vision range r_{c} which appears to lead both layers in different patterns while varying its values. Particularly, the interlayer static sync π has been found and its stability is proven. First-order transitions are observed when the repulsive coupling strength σ_{r} is very small for a fixed r_{c} and, moreover, in the absence of the repulsive coupling, they also appear for sufficiently large values of r_{c}. For σ_{r}=0 and for sufficiently small values of r_{c}, both layers achieve a second-order transition in a surprising two steps that are characterized by the drop of the energy of the internal phases while increasing the value of the interlayer attractive coupling σ_{a} and later a smooth jump, up to high energy value where synchronization is achieved. During these transitions, the internal phases present rotating waves with counterclockwise and later clockwise directions until synchronization, as σ_{a} increases. These results are supported by simulations and animations added as supplemental materials.