Synchronization: A Universal Concept in Nonlinear Sciences

From Book News, Inc.
First recognized in the 17th century, synchronization phenomena are abundant in science, nature, engineering, and social life, apparent in systems from clocks to singing crickets to applauding audiences. Part I explains the main ideas and effects of synchronization at a qualitative level, without equations. Parts II and III cover these ideas at a quantitative level, assuming familiarity with the basics of nonlinear dynamics. The work is intended for a broad audience, from graduate students to specialist researchers in physics, applied mathematics, engineering, and natural sciences.Copyright © 2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR


Review
"This attractively laid-out book contains numerous fascinating examples of synchronization culled from the physical and biological sciences...The book concludes with one of the best expositions on the synchronization of chaotic systems that I have read...Clearly, the authors...have pulled off a very difficult trick, that of writing a book that is both a definitive introduction to synchronization for the casual reader and a definitive text for researchers working in a variety of fields." Nature

"This book will be of use to anybody interested or working in the field. It should find its place on the shelves of many science libraries because it supplies sufficient resources to both the layperson and the specialist." Pure Applicational Geophysics

"This book includes bountiful examples...Synchronization is most suited...for graduate students in the sciences, engineering or mathematics and other scientists who want to learn about this exciting and rapidly developing field." Rober C. Hilborn, American Association of Physics Teachers

"Synchronization is the first book to treat this subject in a unified fashion...an unconventional but excellent pedagogical choice...the treatment of the fundamentals is very well done and more readable than much of the original literature on this still-fashionable subject." Physics Today January 2003

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Systems as diverse as clocks, singing crickets, cardiac pacemakers, firing neurons and applauding audiences exhibit a tendency to operate in synchrony. These phenomena are universal and can be understood within a common framework based on modern nonlinear dynamics. The first half of this book describes synchronization without formulae, and is based on qualitative intuitive ideas. The main effects are illustrated with experimental examples and figures, and the historical development is also outlined. The second half of the book presents the main effects of synchronization in a rigorous and systematic manner, describing both classical results on synchronization of periodic oscillators, and recent developments in chaotic systems, large ensembles, and oscillatory media.

SYNOPSIS