Synchronization: From Coupled Systems to Complex Networks

A modern introduction to synchronization phenomena, this text presents recent discoveries and the current state of research in the field, from low-dimensional systems to complex networks. The book describes some of the main mechanisms of collective behaviour in dynamical systems, including simple coupled systems, chaotic systems, and systems of infinite-dimension. After introducing the reader to the basic concepts of nonlinear dynamics, the book explores the main synchronized states of coupled systems and describes the influence of noise and the occurrence of synchronous motion in multistable and spatially-extended systems. Finally, the authors discuss the underlying principles of collective dynamics on complex networks, providing an understanding of how networked systems are able to function as a whole in order to process information, perform coordinated tasks, and respond collectively to external perturbations. The demonstrations, numerous illustrations and application examples will help advanced graduate students and researchers gain an organic and complete understanding of the subject.

Stefano Boccaletti is Senior Researcher at the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche-Institute for Complex Systems. Previously he has been the Scientific Attache' at the Italian Embassy in Israel,  Full Researcher at the National Institute of Optics in Italy, and Visiting Scientist or Honorary Professor of 7 International Universities. He is the editor of four books and Editor in Chief of Chaos Solitons and Fractals.

Alexander N. Pisarchik is Isaac-Peral Chair in Computational Systems Biology at the Center for Biomedical Technology of the Technical University of Madrid. His research interests include chaos theory and applications in optics, electronics, biology and medicine, chaotic cryptography and communication.

Charo I. del Genio is Visiting Faculty Member at the University of Warwick and his work primarily focuses on graph theory and complex networks, particularly those with an algorithmic or simulation component. Recently he has been applying methods from network research to the study of biological systems, to explain biomolecular mechanisms and design new antimicrobial drugs.

Andreas Amann is a Lecturer at University College Cork and his research interests focus on semiconductor physics, lasers and photonics and more recently, energy harvesting devices. From a mathematical perspective his work concerns synchronization, time delay and complex networks.