We study collective behavior of locally coupled limit-cycle oscillators with random intrinsic frequencies, spatially extended over $d$-dimensional hypercubic lattices. Phase synchronization as well as frequency entrainment are explored analytically in the linear (strong-coupling) regime and numerically in the nonlinear (weak-coupling) regime. Our analysis shows that the oscillator phases are always desynchronized up to $d=4$, which implies the lower critical dimension $d_l^P=4$ for phase synchronization. On the other hand, the oscillators behave collectively in frequency (phase velocity) even in three dimensions $(d=3)$, indicating that the lower critical dimension for frequency entrainment is $d_l^F=2$. Nonlinear effects due to the periodic nature of limit-cycle oscillators are found to become significant in the weak-coupling regime: So-called runaway oscillators destroy the synchronized (ordered) phase and there emerges a fully random (disordered) phase. Critical behavior near the synchronization transition into the fully random phase is unveiled via numerical investigation. Collective behavior of globally coupled oscillators is also examined and compared with that of locally coupled oscillators.

• Received 25 August 2004

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.72.036217