Echo phenomena in large systems of coupled oscillators

As exemplified by the Kuramoto model, large systems of coupled oscillators may undergo a transition to phase coherence with increasing coupling strength. It is shown that below the critical coupling strength for this transition such systems may be expected to exhibit "echo" phenomena: a stimulation by two successive pulses separated by a time interval tau leads to the spontaneous formation of response pulses at a time tau, 2 tau, 3 tau,..., after the second stimulus pulse. Analysis of this phenomenon, as well as illustrative numerical experiments, are presented. The theoretical significance and potential uses of echoes in such systems are discussed. (C) 2008 American Institute of Physics.