Optimizing mutual synchronization of rhythmic spatiotemporal patterns in reaction-diffusion systems

Abstract

Optimization of the stability of synchronized states between a pair of symmetrically coupled reaction-diffusion systems exhibiting rhythmic spatiotemporal patterns is studied in the framework of the phase reduction theory. The optimal linear filter that maximizes the linear stability of the in-phase synchronized state is derived for the case where the two systems are linearly coupled. The nonlinear optimal interaction function that theoretically gives the largest linear stability of the in-phase synchronized state is also derived. The theory is illustrated by using typical rhythmic patterns in FitzHugh-Nagumo systems as examples.