Parameter mismatches, variable delay times and synchronization in time-delayed systems

We investigate synchronization between two unidirectionally linearly coupled chaotic non-identical time-delayed systems and show that parameter mismatches are of crucial importance to achieve synchronization. We establish that independent of the relation between the delay time in the coupled systems and the coupling delay time, only retarded synchronization with the coupling delay time is obtained. We show that with parameter mismatch or without it neither complete nor anticipating synchronization occurs. We derive existence and stability conditions for the retarded synchronization manifold. We demonstrate our approach using examples of the Ikeda and Mackey Glass models. Also for the first time we investigate chaos synchronization in time-delayed systems with variable delay time and find both existence and sufficient stability conditions for the retarded synchronization manifold with the coupling-delay lag time. Also for the first time we consider synchronization between two unidirectionally coupled chaotic multi-feedback Ikeda systems and derive existence and stability conditions for the different anticipating, lag, and complete synchronization regimes.