Array Of Nonlinear Oscillators Research Articles

Dynamics of high-power coupled nonlinear oscillator arrays for electronic beam steering technique: case of the triode based van der Pol oscillator

This paper presents the dynamics of coupled nonlinear oscillator arrays (CNOAs) as phase shifter for electronic beam steering technique. The proposed phase shifter uses oscillators of van der Pol type with a fifth-order nonlinear resistance and is built on the two architectures based injection-locked oscillator array (ILOAs) and coupled oscillator arrays (COAs). The dynamics equations of the phase shifter are proposed in the frequency and time domain. With the help of mathematical tools such as bifurcation diagrams, maximum Lyapunov exponent and Hilbert transform, important cartography of different oscillating states is deduced over large range of system parameters. Different behavior of the CNOAs including chaos, 2D-torus, multistability, locked and unlocked states are depicted. The phase shift between output voltages of each pair of coupled oscillators is presented for both architectures. A detailed analysis of locked states shows that the required phase shift is synthesized by slightly varying the frequency of the injected signal, or simply by detuning the free-running frequencies of the edge oscillators in equal but opposite directions. The proposed circuit of the phased shifter is built using the original van der Pol oscillator based on a vacuum triode. The maximal phase shift reaches 63° and 75° respectively for ILOAs and COAs. With the presence of triode in the circuit, the output voltage of each oscillating element in the array reaches 100V around 60KHz and is boosted by increasing the value of the triode bias potential to more than 420V. This, therefore, increases the total power dissipation of a single oscillator in the array to more than 47dB ( 50.12W ). This circuit is a candidate for high-power electronics beam steering at ultrasonic frequency.

Discrete Breathers of Nonlinear Dimer Lattices: Bridging the Anti-continuous and Continuous Limits

In this work, we study the dynamics of an infinite array of nonlinear dimer oscillators which are linearly coupled as in the classical model of Su, Schrieffer and Heeger (SSH). The ratio of in-cell and out-of-cell couplings of the SSH model defines distinct $\textit{phases}$: topologically trivial and topologically non-trivial. We first consider the case of weak out-of-cell coupling, corresponding to the topologically trivial regime for linear SSH; for any prescribed isolated dimer frequency, $\omega_b$, which satisfies non-resonance and non-degeneracy assumptions, we prove that there are discrete breather solutions for sufficiently small values of the out-of-cell coupling parameter. These states are $2\pi/\omega_b$- periodic in time and exponentially localized in space. We then study the global continuation with respect to this coupling parameter. We first consider the case where $\omega_b$, the seeding discrete breather frequency, is in the (coupling dependent) phonon gap of the underlying linear infinite array. As the coupling is increased, the phonon gap decreases in width and tends to a point (at which the topological transition for linear SSH occurs). In this limit, the spatial scale of the discrete breather grows and its amplitude decreases, indicating the weakly nonlinear long wave regime. Asymptotic analysis shows that in this regime the discrete breather envelope is determined by a vector gap soliton of the limiting envelope equations. We use the envelope theory to describe discrete breathers for SSH- coupling parameters corresponding to topologically trivial and, by exploiting an emergent symmetry, topologically nontrivial regimes, when the spectral gap is small. Our asymptotic theory shows excellent agreement with extensive numerical simulations over a wide range of parameters.

Beam Steering and Signal Amplification Through Feedforward Networks. Part I: Transmission

Conventional and modern methods for beam steering in antennas and radar systems have one goal in common: to manipulate the phase shift between oscillating components, so that the direction of a radiating intensity pattern can be controlled. Typical components include arrays of nonlinear oscillators connected in a chain configuration. Modern methods for beam steering take advantage of the inherent nonlinearities of the individual components and of the collective dynamics of the array of oscillators to successfully manipulate phase shift. None of those methods include, however, signal amplification. In this manuscript, we introduce a novel array configuration: a feedforward network, which allows, simultaneously, for beam steering and signal amplification capabilities. We show that the amplitudes of certain bifurcating solutions in a feedforward network of nonlinear oscillators exhibit growth rates that are significantly larger than in other type of networks that operate near the onset of a Hopf bifurcation. Those branches of oscillations have the potential to lead to significant signal amplification of a radiating beam.

Modal Analysis for Localization of Harmonic Oscillations in Nonlinear Oscillator Arrays

Abstract When a nonlinear oscillator array is harmonically excited, specific oscillators in the array may oscillate with large amplitudes. This is known as the localization phenomenon; however, the reason for localization has not been clarified thus far. Thus, the aim of this study is to elucidate the reason for localization in nonlinear oscillator arrays. We theoretically investigated the behavior of a nonlinear oscillator array, which consists of N Duffing oscillators connected by linear springs under external and harmonic forces. The equations of motion in physical coordinates are transformed into modal equations of motion, which reveal that the array forms an autoparametric system in the modal coordinates when it consists of identical oscillators. The first mode of vibration is directly excited by the external force, whereas the remaining modes are indirectly excited by the nonlinear terms coupled with the first mode. The approximate solutions of the harmonic oscillations were obtained using van der Pol's method. The frequency response curves (FRCs) for both the physical and modal coordinates for N = 2 and 3 are presented. Localization can occur when multiple modes are excited simultaneously. Furthermore, the effects of imperfections in the restoring forces on the responses of the two-Duffing-oscillator array are examined.

Noise influenced response movement in coupled oscillator arrays with multi-stability

In this work, the authors explore the influence of noise on the dynamics of coupled nonlinear oscillators. Numerical studies based on the Euler–Maruyama scheme and experimental studies with finite duration noise are undertaken to examine how the response can be moved from one response state to another by using noise addition to a harmonically forced system. In particular, jumps from a high amplitude state of each oscillator to a low amplitude state of each oscillator and the converse are demonstrated along with noise-influenced localizations. These events are found to occur in a region of multi-stability for the system, and the corresponding noise levels are reported. A method for recognizing how much noise is required to induce a change the system dynamics is developed by using the response basins of attraction. The findings of this work have implications for weakly coupled, nonlinear oscillator arrays and the manner in which noise can be used to influence energy localization and system dynamics in these systems.

Intermodulation distortions from an array of active nonlinear oscillators.

Coupling is critical in nonlinear dynamical systems. It affects the stabilities of individual oscillators as well as the characteristics of their response to external forces. In the auditory system, the mechanical coupling between sensory hair cells has been proposed as a mechanism that enhances the inner ear's sensitivity and frequency discrimination. While extensive studies investigate the effects of coupling on the detection of a sinusoidal signal, the role of coupling underlying the response to a complex tone remains elusive. In this study, we measured the acoustic intermodulation distortions (IMDs) produced by the inner ears of two frog species stimulated simultaneously by two pure tones. The distortion intensity level displayed multiple peaks across stimulus frequencies, in contrast to the generic response from a single nonlinear oscillator. The multiple-peaked pattern was altered upon varying the stimulus intensity or an application of a perturbation tone near the distortion frequency. Numerical results of IMDs from a chain of coupled active nonlinear oscillators driven by two sinusoidal forces reveal the effects of coupling on the variation profile of the distortion amplitude. When the multiple-peaked pattern is observed, the chain's motion at the distortion frequency displays both a progressive wave and a standing wave. The latter arises due to coupling and is responsible for the multiple-peaked pattern. Our results illustrate the significance of mechanical coupling between active hair cells in the generation of auditory distortions, as a mechanism underlying the formation of in vivo standing waves of distortion signals.

Rayleigh wave propagation in nonlinear metasurfaces

We investigate the propagation of Rayleigh waves in a half-space coupled to a nonlinear metasurface. The metasurface consists of an array of nonlinear oscillators attached to the free surface of a homogeneous substrate. We describe, analytically and numerically, the effects of nonlinear interaction force and energy loss on the dispersion of Rayleigh waves. We develop closed-form expressions to predict the dispersive characteristics of nonlinear Rayleigh waves by adopting a leading-order effective medium description. In particular, we demonstrate how hardening nonlinearity reduces and eventually eliminates the linear filtering bandwidth of the metasurface. Softening nonlinearity, in contrast, induces lower and broader spectral gaps for weak to moderate strengths of nonlinearity, and narrows and eventually closes the gaps at high strengths of nonlinearity. We also observe the emergence of a spatial gap (in wavenumber) in the in-phase branch of the dispersion curves for softening nonlinearity. Finally, we investigate the interplay between nonlinearity and energy loss and discuss their combined effects on the dispersive properties of the metasurface. Our analytical results, supported by finite element simulations, demonstrate the mechanisms for achieving tunable dispersion characteristics in nonlinear metasurfaces.

Dynamics and Bifurcations in Networks Designed for Frequency Conversion

This article reviews recent progress in signal frequency up-conversion and down-conversion, both theory and experiments with network implementations. The fundamental idea is to exploit the inherent symmetry of networks to produce collective behavior in which certain oscillators tend to oscillate at different frequencies. This concept is significantly different from other techniques, e.g. master-slave systems, in the sense that the collective behavior arises naturally from the mutual interactions of the individual units, and without any external forcing. In this manuscript, we present a comprehensive review of the basic ideas, methods, and experiments of the symmetry-based phenomenon of frequency conversion. In addition, we present a review of a device implementation of a broad spectrum analyzer, which motivated the development of systematic methods to up- and down-convert frequencies of oscillations. This device is made up of large parallel arrays of analog nonlinear oscillators with the ability to receive complex signals containing multiple frequencies and instantaneously lock-on or respond to a received signal in a few oscillation cycles.

Transient probability in basins of noise influenced responses of mono and coupled Duffing oscillators.

Duffing systems excited by harmonic excitations and subjected to noise additions are considered, and it is examined whether the noise addition can be used to steer the response from one stable mode to another. To help with this examination, the authors propose a methodology for estimating the probability that a short duration Gaussian white noise can be used to generate or destroy stable modes of a single nonlinear oscillator as well as a set of coupled nonlinear oscillators. This estimation is done by using the path integral method to find the transient joint probability density function at discrete points in time and then integrating the probability density function over the basins of attraction of the responses of the deterministic system. Results are provided and discussed for the single Duffing oscillator and two coupled Duffing oscillators forced by a near resonance harmonic excitation and noise addition. This work can form a basis for carrying out noise influenced energy movement or localization in the arrays of nonlinear oscillators and have relevance for applications in sensors, energy harvesting devices, and more.

Discrete vortices on spatially nonuniform two-dimensional electric networks

Two-dimensional arrays of nonlinear electric oscillators are considered theoretically where nearest neighbors are coupled by relatively small constant but nonequal capacitors. The dynamics is approximately reduced to a weakly dissipative defocusing discrete nonlinear Schrödinger equation with translationally noninvariant linear dispersive coefficients. Behavior of quantized discrete vortices in such systems is shown to depend strongly on the spatial profile of the internode coupling as well as on the ratio between time-increasing healing length and lattice spacings. In particular, vortex clusters can be stably trapped for some initial period of time by a circular barrier in the coupling profile, but then, due to gradual dissipative broadening of vortex cores, they lose stability and suddenly start to move.

Discrete Vortices in Systems of Coupled Nonlinear Oscillators: Numerical Results for an Electric Model

Vortex coherent structures on arrays of nonlinear oscillators joined by weak links into topologically nontrivial two-dimensional discrete manifolds have been theoretically studied. A circuit of nonlinear electric oscillators coupled by relatively weak capacitances has been considered as a possible physical implementation of such objects. Numerical experiments have shown that a time-monochromatic external force applied to several oscillators leads to the formation of long-lived and nontrivially interacting vortices in the system against a quasistationary background in a wide range of parameters. The dynamics of vortices depends on the method of "coupling" of the opposite sides of a rectangular array by links, which determines the topology of the resulting manifold (torus, Klein bottle, projective plane, M\"obius strip, ring, or disk).

Resonant frequencies and spatial correlations in frustrated arrays of Josephson type nonlinear oscillators

We present a theoretical study of resonant frequencies and spatial correlations of Josephson phases in frustrated arrays of Josephson junctions. Two types of one-dimensional arrays, namely, the diamond and sawtooth chains, are discussed in detail. For these arrays in the linear regime the Josephson phase dynamics is characterized by multiband dispersion relation , and the lowest band becomes completely flat at a critical value of frustration, f = f c. In a strongly nonlinear regime such critical value of frustration determines the crossover from non-frustrated (0 < f < f c) to frustrated (f c < f < 1) regimes. The crossover is characterized by the thermodynamic spatial correlation functions of phases on vertices, , i.e. displaying the transition from long- to short-range spatial correlations. We find that higher-order correlations functions, e.g. p = 2 and p = 3, restore the long-range behavior deeply in the frustrated regime, . Monte-Carlo simulations of the thermodynamics of frustrated arrays of Josephson junctions are in good agreement with analytical results. We also outline the extension of our results to the case of kagome lattice, prototypical 2D frustrated lattice, and other higher dimensional lattices.

Variability in Fermi-Pasta-Ulam-Tsingou arrays can prevent recurrences

In 1955, Fermi, Pasta, Ulam, and Tsingou reported recurrence over time of energy between modes in a one-dimensional array of nonlinear oscillators. Subsequently, there have been myriad numerical experiments using homogenous FPUT arrays, which consist of chains of ideal, nonlinearly-coupled oscillators. However, inherent variations --- e.g., due to manufacturing tolerance --- introduce heterogeneity into the parameters of any physical system. We demonstrate that such tolerances degrade the observance of recurrence, often leading to complete loss in moderately sized arrays. We numerically simulate heterogeneous FPUT systems to investigate the effects of tolerances on dynamics. Our results illustrate that tolerances in real nonlinear oscillator arrays may limit the applicability of results from numerical experiments on them to physical systems, unless appropriate heterogeneities are taken into account.

Control of autoresonance in mechanical and physical models

Autoresonant energy transfer has been considered as one of the most effective methods of excitation and control of high-energy oscillations for a broad range of physical and engineering systems. Nonlinear time-invariant feedback control provides effective self-tuning and self-adaptation mechanisms targeted at preserving resonance oscillations under variations of the system parameters but its implementation may become extremely complicated. A large class of systems can avoid nonlinear feedback, still producing the required state due to time-variant feed-forward frequency control. This type of control in oscillator arrays employs an intrinsic property of a nonlinear oscillator to vary both its amplitude and the frequency when the driving frequency changes. This paper presents a survey of recently published and new results studying possibilities and limitations of time-variant frequency control in nonlinear oscillator arrays.This article is part of the themed issue 'Horizons of cybernetical physics'.

Multi-modal vibration energy harvesting approach based on nonlinear oscillator arrays under magnetic levitation

We propose a multi-modal vibration energy harvesting approach based on arrays of coupled levitated magnets. The equations of motion which include the magnetic nonlinearity and the electromagnetic damping are solved using the harmonic balance method coupled with the asymptotic numerical method. A multi-objective optimization procedure is introduced and performed using a non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm for the cases of small magnet arrays in order to select the optimal solutions in term of performances by bringing the eigenmodes close to each other in terms of frequencies and amplitudes. Thanks to the nonlinear coupling and the modal interactions even for only three coupled magnets, the proposed method enable harvesting the vibration energy in the operating frequency range of 4.6–14.5 Hz, with a bandwidth of 190% and a normalized power of .

Intrinsic localized modes of 1/2-order subharmonic oscillations in nonlinear oscillator arrays

1/2-order subharmonic oscillations in an array with \(N\) nonlinear, identical oscillators are theoretically investigated. Each oscillator is connected by weak, linear springs and subjected to sinusoidal excitation. Van der Pol’s method is employed to determine the frequency response curves for 1/2-order subharmonic oscillations when \(N=2\) and 3. Frequency response curves for hard- and soft-type nonlinearities of the oscillators are examined and compared with each other. All patterns of oscillations are classified depending on the results of the response curves, and it is determined in which pattern intrinsic localized modes (ILMs) appear. When disturbances are input in order to observe ILMs, basins of attraction demonstrate which pattern of ILMs may occur. Bifurcation sets are also calculated to examine the influence of the connecting spring constants on the response curves and the occurrence of Hopf bifurcations and amplitude-modulated motions (AMMs), including chaotic vibrations. Furthermore, the influence of oscillator imperfections on the response curves is investigated by slightly changing the value of the spring constant. The numerical simulations for \(N=2\) and 3 confirm the validity of the frequency response curves and the occurrence of AMMs. ILMs were also observed in the numerical simulations conducted for \(N=10\).

Response localization in micro-scale oscillator arrays: influence of cubic coupling nonlinearities

In this article, the authors study response localization in coupled arrays of nonlinear oscillators with cubic coupling nonlinearities. For illustration, an array of micro-scale oscillators with intersite or coupling nonlinearities is considered and attention is focused on intrinsic localized modes. Free oscillations and forced oscillations of this system are considered, and the interplay between noise and cubic coupling nonlinearities is studied through numerical studies. These studies help elucidate the role of coupling nonlinearities on energy localization in micro-scale oscillators.

An Active Oscillator Model Describes the Statistics of Spontaneous Otoacoustic Emissions

Even in the absence of external stimulation, the cochleas of most humans emit very faint sounds below the threshold of hearing, sounds that are known as spontaneous otoacoustic emissions. They are a signature of the active amplification mechanism in the cochlea. Emissions occur at frequencies that are unique for an individual and change little over time. The statistics of a population of ears exhibit characteristic features such as a preferred relative frequency distance between emissions (interemission intervals). We propose a simplified cochlea model comprising an array of active nonlinear oscillators coupled both hydrodynamically and viscoelastically. The oscillators are subject to a weak spatial disorder that lends individuality to the simulated cochlea. Our model captures basic statistical features of the emissions: distributions of 1), emission frequencies; 2), number of emissions per ear; and 3), interemission intervals. In addition, the model reproduces systematic changes of the interemission intervals with frequency. We show that the mechanism for the preferred interemission interval in our model is the occurrence of synchronized clusters of oscillators.

Intrinsic Localized Modes of Harmonic Oscillations in Nonlinear Oscillator Arrays

Intrinsic localized modes (ILMs) are investigated in an array with N Duffing oscillators that are weakly coupled with each other when each oscillator is subjected to sinusoidal excitation. The purpose of this study is to investigate the behavior of ILMs in nonlinear multi-degree-of-freedom (MDOF) systems. In the theoretical analysis, van der Pol's method is employed to determine the expressions for the frequency response curves for fundamental harmonic oscillations. In the numerical calculations, the frequency response curves are shown for N = 2 and 3 and compared with the results of the numerical simulations. Basins of attraction are shown for a two-oscillator array with hard-type nonlinearities to examine the possibility of appearance of ILMs when an oscillator is disturbed. The influences of the connecting springs for both hard- and soft-type nonlinearities on the appearance of the ILMs are examined. Increasing the values of the connecting spring constants may cause Hopf bifurcation followed by amplitude modulated motion (AMM) including chaotic vibrations. The influence of the imperfection of an oscillator is also investigated. Bifurcation sets are calculated to show the influence of the system parameters on the excitation frequency range of ILMs. Furthermore, time histories are shown for the case of N = 10, and many patterns of ILMs may appear depending on the initial conditions.

Glassy Interfacial Dynamics of Ni Nanoparticles: Part II Discrete Breathers as an Explanation of Two-Level Energy Fluctuations.

Recent studies of the dynamics of diverse condensed amorphous materials have indicated significant heterogeneity in the local mobility and a progressive increase in collective particle motion upon cooling that takes the form of string-like particle rearrangements. In a previous paper (Part I), we examined the possibility that fluctuations in potential energy E and particle mobility μ associated with this 'dynamic heterogeneity' might offer information about the scale of collective motion in glassy materials based on molecular dynamics simulations of the glassy interfacial region of Ni nanoparticles (NPs) at elevated temperatures. We found that the noise exponent associated with fluctuations in the Debye-Waller factor, a mobility related quantity, was directly proportional to the scale of collective motion L under a broad range of conditions, but the noise exponent associated with E(t) fluctuations was seemingly unrelated to L. In the present work, we focus on this unanticipated difference between potential energy and mobility fluctuations by examining these quantities at an atomic scale. We find that the string atoms exhibit a jump-like motion between two well-separated bands of energy states and the rate at which these jumps occur seems to be consistent with the phenomenology of the 'slow-beta' relaxation process of glass-forming liquids. Concurrently with these local E(t) jumps, we also find 'quake-like' particle displacements having a power-law distribution in magnitude so that particle displacement fluctuations within the strings are strikingly different from local E(t) fluctuations. An analysis of these E(t) fluctuations suggests that we are dealing with 'discrete breather' excitations in which large energy fluctuations develop in arrays of non-linear oscillators by virtue of large anharmonicity in the interparticle interactions and discreteness effects associated with particle packing. We quantify string collective motions on a fast caging times scale (picoseconds) and explore the significance of these collective motions for understanding the Boson peak of glass-forming materials.