Weak signal enhancement by nonlinear resonance control in a forced nano-electromechanical resonator

Avishek Chowdhury,Marcel G Clerc,Sylvain Barbay,Isabelle Robert-Philip,Remy Braive

doi:10.1038/s41467-020-15827-3

Abstract

Driven non-linear resonators can display sharp resonances or even multistable behaviours amenable to induce strong enhancements of weak signals. Such enhancements can make use of the phenomenon of vibrational resonance, whereby a weak low-frequency signal applied to a bistable resonator can be amplified by driving the non-linear oscillator with another appropriately-adjusted non-resonant high-frequency field. Here we demonstrate experimentally and theoretically a significant resonant enhancement of a weak signal by use of a vibrational force, yet in a monostable system consisting of a driven nano-electromechanical nonlinear resonator. The oscillator is subjected to a strong quasi-resonant drive and to two additional tones: a weak signal at lower frequency and a non-resonant driving at an intermediate frequency. We analyse this phenomenon in terms of coherent nonlinear resonance manipulation. Our results illustrate a general mechanism which might have applications in the fields of microwave signal amplification or sensing for instance.

Highlights

Driven non-linear resonators can display sharp resonances or even multistable behaviours amenable to induce strong enhancements of weak signals
Such external driving can be some noise of appropriate strength in the case of stochastic resonance[1], or a high-frequency harmonic signal of appropriate amplitude in the case of vibrational resonance[2]
We argue that this effect could be used besides the one we are presenting here, as a general mechanism for nonlinear resonance manipulation

Summary

Introduction

Driven non-linear resonators can display sharp resonances or even multistable behaviours amenable to induce strong enhancements of weak signals. Such external driving can be some noise of appropriate strength in the case of stochastic resonance[1], or a high-frequency harmonic signal of appropriate amplitude in the case of vibrational resonance[2] Both physical phenomena share qualitative features including a resonant-like behaviour, though the underlying mechanisms differ. We argue that this effect could be used besides the one we are presenting here, as a general mechanism for nonlinear resonance manipulation Beyond these fundamental aspects, potential applications encompass various fields such as telecommunications, where the data are encoded on a low-frequency modulation applied to a highfrequency carrier, or, more prospectively, microwave signals processing and sensing such as accelerometers featuring enhanced sensitivities via optomechanically driven signal amplification[19] or for torque magnetometry[20]. Enhancement of weak signal by vibrational resonance might be valuable for binary logic gate based on phase transition for reprogrammable logic operation[22,23] as well as for memory operation[24], physical simulators[25,26] and more prospective application as quantum computing[27]

Methods

Results

Conclusion