Stochastic resonance on weakly paced scale-free networks

We study the impact of additive Gaussian noise and weak periodic forcing on the dynamics of a scale-free network of bistable overdamped oscillators. The periodic forcing is introduced to a single oscillator and therefore acts as a pacemaker trying to impose its rhythm on the whole ensemble. We show that an intermediate intensity of temporally and spatially uncorrelated noise is able to optimally assist the pacemaker in achieving this goal, thus providing evidence for stochastic resonance on weakly paced scale-free networks. Because of the inherent degree inhomogeneity of individual oscillators forming the scale-free network, the placement of the pacemaker within the network is thereby crucial. As two extremes, we consider separately the introduction of the pacemaker to the oscillator with the highest degree and to one of the oscillators having the lowest degree. In both cases the coupling strength plays a crucial role, since it determines to what extent the whole network will follow the pacemaker on the expense of a weaker correlation between the pacemaker and the units that are directly linked with the paced oscillator. Higher coupling strengths facilitate the global outreach of the pacemaker, but require higher noise intensities for the optimal response. In contrast, lower coupling strengths and comparatively low noise intensities localize the optimal response to immediate neighbors of the paced oscillator. If the pacemaker is introduced to the main hub, the transition between the locally and globally optimal responses is characterized by a double resonance that postulates the existence of an optimal coupling strength for the transmission of weak rhythmic activity across scale-free networks. We corroborate the importance of the inhomogeneous structure of scale-free networks by additionally considering regular networks of oscillators with different degrees of coupling.