Oscillators with symmetric and asymmetric quadratic nonlinearity

Abstract

In this paper, oscillators with asymmetric and symmetric quadratic nonlinearity are compared. Both oscillators are modeled as ordinary second-order differential equations with strong quadratic nonlinearities: one with positive quadratic term and the second with a quadratic term which changes the sign. Solutions for both equations are obtained in the form of Jacobi elliptic functions. For the asymmetric oscillator, conditions for the periodic motion are determined, while for the symmetric oscillator a new approximate solution procedure based on averaging is developed. Obtained results are tested on an optomechanical system where the motion of a cantilever in the intracavity field is oscillatory. Two types of quadratic nonlinearities in the system are investigated: symmetric and asymmetric. The advantage and disadvantage of both models is discussed. The analytical procedure suggested in the paper is applied. The obtained solution agrees well with a numerical one.