Acoustic Multifunctional Logic Gates and Amplifier Based on Passive Parity-Time Symmetry

Abstract

Acoustic analogue computation and signal processing are of great significance; however, it is challenging to realize acoustic computing devices because of their limitations of single function and complex structure. Here, an acoustic multifunctional device, which can gate or amplify acoustic waves without resorting to altering the frequency and structure using a passive acoustic parity-time (PT)-symmetric metamaterial, is realized theoretically and experimentally. The metamaterial is constructed by five lossless-loss periodically distributed media, which are modulated to achieve passive PT symmetry. At the coherent perfect absorber emitter point in the broken PT-symmetric phase, the logic gates (and, or, xor, and not) and small signal amplifier are realized in a single system by adjusting the phase and amplitude differences between two incoming beams, respectively. This work provides a route for the connection between PT symmetry and the acoustic metamaterial, which has potential applications in acoustic modulation and acoustic multifunctional devices.