Synchronization of interconnected networks: The role of connector nodes Articles uri icon

publication date

  • June 2014

start page

  • 1

end page

  • 5

issue

  • 248701

volume

  • 112

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0031-9007

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1079-7114

abstract

  • In this Letter we identify the general rules that determine the synchronization properties of interconnected networks. We study analytically, numerically, and experimentally how the degree of the nodes through which two networks are connected influences the ability of the whole system to synchronize. We show that connecting the high-degree (low-degree) nodes of each network turns out to be the most (least) effective strategy to achieve synchronization. We find the functional relation between synchronizability and size for a given network of networks, and report the existence of the optimal connector link weights for the different interconnection strategies. Finally, we perform an electronic experiment with two coupled star networks and conclude that the analytical results are indeed valid in the presence of noise and parameter mismatches.

subjects

  • Mathematics

keywords