# Photosensitive Control and Network Synchronization of Chemical Oscillators

## TL;DR

This paper explores how light can control and synchronize chemical reactions in a network setup using the Belousov–Zhabotinsky reaction.

## Contribution

The study introduces a novel experimental setup using photochemical coupling in star networks of BZ oscillators.

## Key findings

- A star network of BZ oscillators was successfully synchronized using photochemical inhibitory coupling.
- The experimental design allows for potential expansion to more complex network architectures.
- The setup enhances understanding of synchronization in complex chemical systems.

## Abstract

The Belousov–Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction has long been a paradigmatic system for studying chemical oscillations. Here, we experimentally studied the synchronization control within photochemically coupled star networks of BZ oscillators. Experiments were carried out in wells performed in soda-lime glass constructed using novel laser technologies. Utilizing the inherent oscillatory nature of the BZ reaction, we engineered a star network of oscillators interconnected through photochemical inhibitory coupling. Furthermore, the experimental setup presented here could be extrapolated to more complex network architectures with both excitatory and inhibitory couplings, contributing to the fundamental understanding of synchronization in complex systems.