Synchronization of Networks of Non-Identical Chua's Circuits: Analysis and Experiments

This paper is concerned with the theoretical and experimental analysis of synchronization and pinning control of networks of non-identical Chua's circuits. The design and implementation is presented of an appropriate setup to carry out experiments on networks of these nonlinear circuits with easily reconfigurable parameter values. Then, the theoretical expectations are validated of the so-called Extended Master Stability Function approach to study the onset of synchronization in the presence of real parameter mismatches between the circuits at the network nodes. The validation is carried out both numerically and experimentally. For the first time, the EMSF is also used to investigate pinning synchronization in a network of non-identical circuits where a master node (or pinner) is used to drive the network dynamics towards some desired synchronous evolution. The numerical and experimental results confirm the viability of the EMSF as an effective analysis and design tool.