This work systematically investigates a large number of oscillatory network configurations that are able to describe many real systems such as electric power grids, lasers or even the heart muscle, to name but a few. The book is conceived as an introduction to the field for graduate students in physics and applied mathematics as well as being a compendium for researchers from any field of application interested in quantitative models.

Understanding of the human brain functioning currently represents a challenging problem. In contrast to usual serial computers and complicated hierarchically organized artificial man-made systems, decentralized, parallel and distributed information processing principles are inherent to the brain. Besides adaptation and learning, which play a crucial role in brain functioning, oscillatory neural activity, synchronization and resonance accompany the brain work. Neural-like oscillatory network models, designed by the authors for image processing, allow to elucidate the capabilities of dynamical, synchronization-based types of image processing, presumably exploited by the brain. The oscillatory network models, studied by means of computer modeling and qualitative analysis, are presented and discussed in the book. Some other problems of parallel distributed information processing are also considered, such as a recall process from network memory for large-scale recurrent associative memory neural networks, performance of oscillatory networks of associative memory, dynamical oscillatory network methods of image processing with synchronization-based performance, optical parallel information processing based on the nonlinear optical phenomenon of photon echo, and modeling random electric fields of quasi-monochromatic polarized light beams using systems of superposed stochastic oscillators. This makes the book highly interesting to researchers dealing with various aspects of parallel information processing.

Lawrence Sirovich will turn seventy on March 1, 2003. Larry's academic life of over 45 years at the Courant Institute, Brown University, Rockefeller University and the Mount Sinai School of Medicine has touched many peo ple and several disciplines, from fluid dynamics to brain theory. His con tributions to the kinetic theory of gases, methods of applied mathematics, theoretical fluid dynamics, hydrodynamic turbulence, the biophysics of vi sion and the dynamics of neuronal populations, represent the creative work of an outstanding scholar who was stimulated mostly by insatiable curios ity. As a scientist, Larry has consistently offered fresh outlooks on classical and difficult subjects, and moved into new fields effortlessly. He delights in what he knows and does, and sets no artificial boundaries to the range of his inquiry. Among the more than fifty or so Ph. D. students and post docs that he has mentored, many continue to make first-rate contributions themselves and hold academic positions in the US and elsewhere. Larry's scientific collaborators are numerous and distinguished. Those of us who have known him well will agree that Larry's charm, above all, is his taste, wit, and grace under fire. Larry has contributed immensely to mathematics publishing. He be gan his career with Springer by founding the Applied Mathematical Sci ences series together with Fritz John and Joe LaSalle some 30 years ago. Later he co-founded the Texts in Applied Mathematics series and more re cently the Interdisciplinary Applied Mathematics series.

This fascinating work is devoted to the fundamental phenomenon in physics – synchronization that occurs in coupled non-linear dissipative oscillators. Examples of such systems range from mechanical clocks to population dynamics, from the human heart to neural networks. The main purpose of this book is to demonstrate that the complexity of synchronous patterns of real oscillating systems can be described in the framework of the general approach, and the authors study this phenomenon as applied to oscillations of different types, such as those with periodic, chaotic, noisy and noise-induced nature.

The book describes synchronization phenomena using both classical results and more recent developments.

A guide to the fascinating new concept of chaotic sychronization.

The investigation of nonlinear dynamis in physical and engineering systems from the point of view of systems and control theory is important to develop better engineering systems. Synchronization of oscillators and output regulation for rigid body systems are two problem classes which are inherently nonlinear and are of great importance in applications. This thesis contains novel results for both problem classes. In the case of sychronization of oscillators we consider two different system classes and give sufficient or necessary conditions for synchronization. In the case of the output regulation problems for rigid body systems we provide a new two-step control design procedure, a detailed analysis for the error dynamics and an application scenario for satellite control. A highlight of the thesis is a new separation principle which is the underlying principle of the two-step design procedure for the output regulation problem.