Synchronization is optimal in nondiagonalizable networks.

We consider maximization of the synchronizability of oscillator networks by assigning weights and directions to the links of a given interaction topology. By extending the master stability formalism to all possible network structures, we show that, unless some oscillator is linked to all the others, maximally synchronizable networks are necessarily nondiagonalizable and can always be obtained by imposing unidirectional information flow with normalized input strengths. The results provide insights into hierarchical structures observed in complex networks in which synchronization is important.