Generation and Propagation of Topological Solitons in a Chain of Coupled Parametric-Micromechanical-Resonator Arrays

Abstract

Using a coupled parametric-resonator array for generating and propagating a topological soliton in its rotating-frame phase space is theoretically and numerically investigated. In an analogy with the well-known phi4 model, the existence of a soliton is topologically protected as the boundary of two different phase domains of parametric oscillation. Numerical simulation indicates that the propagation can be triggered by switching of the phase state of one specific resonator, and the effects of damping, collision, and the symmetry lifting by harmonic drive on the propagation dynamics are studied. The topological soliton can be implemented by using electromechanical resonators, which allow its propagation dynamics to be precisely electrically controlled and provide a fully controlled on-chip test bed for the study of a topological soliton.