Synchronization of spatially extended chaotic systems in the presence of asymmetric coupling

In a recent paper [ Phys. Rev. Lett. 91 064103 (2003)] we described the effects of asymmetric coupling configurations on the synchronization of spatially extended systems. In this paper, we report the consequences induced by the presence of asymmetries in the coupling scheme on the synchronization process of a pair of one-dimensional fields obeying complex Ginzburg-Landau equations. While synchronization always occurs for large enough coupling strengths, asymmetries have the effect of enhancing synchronization and play a crucial role in setting the threshold for the appearance of the synchronized dynamics, as well as in selecting the statistical and dynamical properties of the synchronized motion. We analyze the process of synchronization in the presence of asymmetries when the dynamics is affected by the presence of phase singularities, and show that defects tend to anchor one system to the other. In addition, asymmetry controls the number of synchronized defects that are present in the dynamics. Possible consequences of such asymmetry induced effects in biological and natural systems are discussed.