Demonstration of slow sound propagation and acoustic transparency with a series of detuned resonators

Abstract

We present experimental results demonstrating the phenomenon of acoustic transparency with a significant slowdown of sound propagation realized with a series of paired detuned acoustic resonators (DAR) side-attached to a waveguide. The phenomenon mimics the electromagnetically induced transparency in atomic physics. By arranging four identical DAR pairs along the waveguide with an equal subwavelength separation between adjacent pairs, we show that this arrangement features unique properties of narrow-band transmission and strong dispersion. In particular, we demonstrate side-lobe suppression of more than 20 dB on both sides of the transparency window, and we quantify directly (using a pulse propagation) the acoustic slowdown effect, resulting in the sound group velocity of \ensuremath{\sim}9.8 m/s (i.e. in the group refractive index of 35). We find very similar values of the group refractive index by using measurements of the phase of the transmitted wave. It is also shown that a direct coupling exists between the DAR in each pair, which cannot be explained by the interference of waves radiated from those resonators. This detrimental coupling becomes noticeable for small values of detuning and also if the cross-sectional area of the neck of the resonators is increased.