Experimental implementation of maximally synchronizable networks

Maximally synchronizable networks (MSNs) are acyclic directed networks that maximize synchronizability. In this paper, we investigate the feasibility of transforming networks of coupled oscillators into their corresponding MSNs. By tuning the weights of any given network so as to reach the lowest possible eigenratio lambdaN/lambda2, the synchronized state is guaranteed to be maintained across the longest possible range of coupling strengths. We check the robustness of the resulting MSNs with an experimental implementation of a network of nonlinear electronic oscillators and study the propagation of the synchronization errors through the network. Importantly, a method to study the effects of topological uncertainties on the synchronizability is proposed and explored both theoretically and experimentally.The authors acknowledge J.L. Echenausía-Monroy, V.P. Vera-Ávila, J. Moreno de León, C. Hapo and P.L. del Barrio for assistance in the laboratory, and the support of MINECO (FIS2012-38949-C03-01 and FIS2013-41057-P). One anonymous referee is acknowledged for having provided valuable advice that has influenced our understanding of the origin of the propagation of the synchronization error, and helped us improve the manuscript in several ways. The authors also acknowledge the computational resources, facilities and assistance provided by the Centro computazionale di RicErca sui Sistemi COmplessi (CRESCO) of the Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA). R.S.E. acknowledges Universidad de Guadalajara, CULagos (Mexico) for financial support (PRO-SNI-2015/228069, PROINPEP/005/2014, UDG-CONACyT/I010/163/2014) and CONACyT (Becas Mixtas MZO2015/290842). D.-U. Hwang acknowledges National Institute for Mathematical Sciences (NIMS) funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT & Future Planning (A21501-3)