Interaction between self-oscillatory systems

Abstract

Synchronization of periodic self-oscillations in coupled systems has been known for a long time. Huygens was probably the first scientist who observed this phenomenon as early as the 17th century [Hugenii, 1673]. He discovered that a pair of pendulum clocks suspended from a light beam which rests on two supports are synchronized, i.e., their pendulums vibrate with equal frequencies and with opposite phases. Huygens realistically understood that the synchronization was caused by an imperceptible motion of the beam.