Synchronous machines are AC machines with a field circuit supplied by an external DC source, producing a rotating magnetic field in generators and aligning the rotor field in motors. They come in various forms, including salient pole constructions, and utilize slip rings, brushes, or brushless exciters for field current supply, with specific cooling systems to manage heat. Specifications, installation procedures, and testing processes for synchronous machines like motors and generators are detailed, along with different duty cycles that dictate operational requirements.