Experimental and numerical study of the synchronization of canards in identical coupled canard-generating Bonhoeffer-van der Pol oscillators

This Letter discusses the complete and in-phase synchronization of canards generated in identical and nearly identical coupled canard-generating Bonhoeffer-van der Pol oscillators. In particular, motivated by the fact that canards are extremely sensitive to variations in the parameters describing the system, we investigate the manner in which synchronization occurs. We show numerically that the complete and in-phase synchronization of canards occurs in systems in which the coupling parameter is relatively small. Furthermore, we show that the complete synchronization of canards can be experimentally observed. Experimentally, it is found, however, that the complete synchronization of canards occurs in systems with stronger coupling. We explain why a strong coupling is necessary to experimentally observe complete synchronization. •The synchronization of canards in identical coupled BVP oscillators is investigated.•The complete synchronization of canards can be experimentally observed.•We show why a strong coupling is necessary to achieve the complete synchronization.