Sync

First published: 2003

Brief summary

Book page for Strogatz's introduction to synchronisation across domains.

Article

Steven Strogatz’s book Sync surveys spontaneous synchronisation in physical, biological and social systems. It describes how populations of oscillating units can begin with different phases and frequencies yet develop coordinated timing through interaction.

Examples include pendulum clocks, electrical power systems, cardiac pacemaker cells, circadian rhythms, fireflies and collective human behaviour. The common feature is that each component has its own rhythm while coupling allows information about timing to pass between components.

Synchronisation can involve agreement in frequency, a stable phase relationship, or both. Whether coordination develops depends on the strength and form of coupling, the spread of natural frequencies and the structure of the interacting population.

The book presents synchronisation as an emergent process rather than a centrally imposed schedule. Mathematical oscillator models provide simplified descriptions of how local interactions can produce coherent large-scale behaviour across otherwise very different systems.

Source details and credits

• Source / publisher: Steven Strogatz
• Source type: Book page
• URL type: WWW
• Credits: Steven Strogatz
• URL: https://www.stevenstrogatz.com/books/sync