Synchronization processes in complex networks

We present an extended analysis, based on the dynamics towards synchronization of a system of coupled oscillators, of the hierarchy of communities in complex networks. In the synchronization process, different structures corresponding to well defined communities of nodes appear in a hierarchical way. The analysis also provides a useful connection between synchronization dynamics, complex networks topology and spectral graph analysis. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.