Exact Lag Synchronization in Time Delay Systems and Why Experimental Lag Times Can Differ from Theoretical Predictions

We present analytical investigation of exact lag synchronization between two unidirectionally coupled identical time delay systems with two characteristic delay times, where the delay time in the coupling is different from the delay time in the coupled systems themselves. For the first time we demonstrate that parameter mismatches can explain the experimental observation that the lag time is equal to the coupling delay.