Name:   Alastair Rucklidge
email:  A.M.Rucklidge@leeds.ac.uk
tel:    35161
office: 8.17f

Title:  Synchronization of nonlinear oscillators

Synchronization phenomena are abundant in science, nature, engineering and
social life. 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.

Depending on the interests of the student, the following topics could be
investigated:

Synchronization of two or more oscillators.

Synchronization of chaotic oscillators.

Stability of the synchronized state

Blow-out bifurcations, intermittency, cycling chaos, ...

There is scope for both analytical and numerical work in this project. 
Interested candidates should consult Dr A.M. Rucklidge.

References:

Synchronization, by Pikovsky, Rosenblum and Kurths

(Cambridge University Press, 2001).

`Sync: the emerging science of spontaneous order', by Steve Strogatz
(Hyperion, 2003).