Abnormal Synchronization in Complex Clustered Networks

Recent research has revealed that complex networks with a smaller average distance and more homogeneous degree distribution are more synchronizable. We find, however, that synchronization in complex, clustered networks tends to obey a different set of rules. In particular, the synchronizability of such a network is determined by the interplay between intercluster and intracluster links. The network is most synchronizable when the numbers of the two types of links are approximately equal. In the presence of a mismatch, increasing the number of intracluster links, while making the network distance smaller, can counterintuitively suppress or even destroy the synchronization. We provide theory and numerical evidence to establish this phenomenon.