Abstract

Synchronization is a fascinating example of emerging dynamics in coupled oscillators, and plays an important functional role in the collective dynamical behavior of complex systems. The effect of time-delayed interactions, which arise from a realistic consideration of finite communication times, is a key issue that has received considerable attention. Specifically, research has focused on the mechanisms by which two or more distant oscillators synchronize even in the presence of non-negligible delay times in their interactions. Recently, zero-lag isochronous synchronization was reported experimentally and theoretically [1-2], in arrays composed by three semiconductor lasers, coupled unidirectionally or bi-directionally in a way such that a central laser acts as a relay of the dynamics between the outer lasers. In these studies the delay times between the lasers were adjusted to be equal; however, it is also important to understand how a system of coupled units synchronizes when the delays in the interactions are different for the different

© 2007 IEEE