Synchronization: From Metronomes to Fiber Lasers

COFFEE_KLATCH · Invited

Abstract

Some 344 years ago (give or take) Chritiaan Huygens observed two pendulum clocks spontaneously synchronize; the pendulums always locked in anti-phase. He traced the interaction to the minute motion of the wooden beam which supported the two clocks. In contrast, a simple classroom demonstration using metronomes in place of pendulum clocks -- with the same support-coupling mechanism -- yields stable in-phase synchronization. I'll explore (and explain) the reasons behind this difference. I'll also describe a surprising connection with synchronized fiber lasers, a longstanding but recently achieved goal in laser physics.

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Authors

  • Kurt Wiesenfeld

    Miami University, Summa Health System, Akron, John Carroll University, Prof, Dr, BfS, Germany, Florida State University, Monmouth College, Ohio Wesleyan University, Kenyon College, University of Cincinnati, Brookhaven National Lab, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, Dept. of Chermical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Cleveland State University, The Neurological Institute, Epilepsy Center, Department of Neurology, Cleveland Clinic, Un. of Stockholm, The University of Akron, Case Western Reserve University, West Virginia University, Kalamazoo College and Editor, American Journal of Physics, Denison University, University of Southern Florida, Johannes-Gutenberg-Universitat, BfS (Germany), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Department of Physics, West Virginia University, Kansas State University, The Pennsylvania State University, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Purdue University, Saint Jospeh's College, University of Washington, Indiana University, University of Potsdam, Georgia Institute of Technology