Meeting Information

Symmetries, Clusters, and Synchronization Patterns in Complex Networks

April 17, 2015
American Center for Physics
College Park, MD

Dr. Thomas MurphyDate: Friday, April 17, 2015 (NOTE: Day and Date)

Speaker: Dr. Thomas Murphy, University of Maryland, College Park, MD

Topic: Symmetries, Clusters, and Synchronization Patterns in Complex Networks

Time and Location: 1:00 PM, with Q&A to follow; in a 1st floor conference room at the American Center for Physics (www.acp.org), 1 Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD — off River Rd., between Kenilworth Ave. and Paint Branch Parkway.

Abstract: Synchronization is of central importance in power distribution, telecommunication, neuronal, and biological networks. Many networks are observed to produce patterns of synchronized clusters, but it has been difficult to predict these clusters or understand the conditions for formation. Here, we show the intimate connections between network symmetry and cluster synchronization. We employ computational group theory to reveal the clusters and determine their stability. The connection between symmetry and cluster synchronization is explored using an electro-optic network. We observe and explain a surprising phenomenon in which some clusters lose synchrony while leaving others synchronized. The results could guide the design of new power grid systems or lead to new understanding of the dynamical behavior of networks ranging from neural to social.

Biography: Dr. Murphy is a professor in the ECE Department at the University of Maryland, College Park and he is director of the Institute for Research in Electronics and Applied Physics at UMCP.