The mechanics of synchronization: From phase modulation to elliptical gears with quasi-relativistic properties

Synchronization is a universal phenomenon in driven or coupled self-sustaining oscillators with important applications in a wide range of fields, from physics and engineering to the life sciences. The Adler–Kuramoto equation represents a reduced dynamical model of the inherent phase modulation effects. As a complement to the standard numerical approaches, the analytical solution of the underlying nonlinear dynamics is considered, giving rise to the study of kinematically equivalent elliptical gears. They highlight the cross-disciplinary relevance of mechanical systems in providing a broader and more intuitive understanding of phase modulation effects. The resulting gear model can even be extended to domains beyond classical mechanics, including quasi-relativistic kinematics and analogues of quantum phenomena.