Experimental and numerical observation of dark and bright breathers in the band gap of a diatomic electrical lattice.

We observe dark and bright intrinsic localized modes (ILMs), also known as discrete breathers, experimentally and numerically in a diatomic-like electrical lattice. The experimental generation of dark ILMs by driving a dissipative lattice with spatially homogenous amplitude is, to our knowledge, unprecedented. In addition, the experimental manifestation of bright breathers within the band gap is also novel in this system. In experimental measurements the dark modes appear just below the bottom of the top branch in frequency. As the frequency is then lowered further into the band gap, the dark ILMs persist, until the nonlinear localization pattern reverses and bright ILMs appear on top of the finite background. Deep into the band gap, only a single bright structure survives in a lattice of 32 nodes. The vicinity of the bottom band also features bright and dark self-localized excitations. These results pave the way for a more systematic study of dark breathers and their bifurcations in diatomic-like chains.

Linear impurity modes in an electrical lattice: Theory and experiment.

We examine theoretically and experimentally the localized electrical modes existing in a bi-inductive electrical lattice containing a bulk or a surface capacitive impurity. By means of the formalism of lattice Green's functions, we are able to obtain closed-form expressions for the frequencies of the impurity (bound-state) eigenmodes and for their associated spatial profiles. This affords us a systematic understanding of how these mode properties change as a function of the system parameters. We test these analytical results against experimental measurements, in both the bulk and surface cases, and find very good agreement. Last, we turn to a series of quench experiments, where either a parameter of the lattice or the lattice geometry itself is rapidly switched between two values or configurations. In all cases, we are able to naturally explain the results of such quench experiments from the larger analytical picture that emerges as a result of the detailed characterization of the impurity-mode solution branches.

Analysis and observation of moving domain fronts in a ring of coupled electronic self-oscillators.

In this work, we consider a ring of coupled electronic (Wien-bridge) oscillators from a perspective combining modeling, simulation, and experimental observation. Following up on earlier work characterizing the pairwise interaction of Wien-bridge oscillators by Kuramoto-Sakaguchi phase dynamics, we develop a lattice model for a chain thereof, featuring an exponentially decaying spatial kernel. We find that for certain values of the Sakaguchi parameter α, states of traveling phase-domain fronts involving the coexistence of two clearly separated regions of distinct dynamical behavior, can establish themselves in the ring lattice. Experiments and simulations show that stationary coexistence domains of synchronization only manifest themselves with the introduction of a local impurity; here an incoherent cluster of oscillators can arise reminiscent of the chimera states in a range of systems with homogeneous oscillators and suitable nonlocal interactions between them.

Emergence and analysis of Kuramoto-Sakaguchi-like models as an effective description for the dynamics of coupled Wien-bridge oscillators.

We derive the Kuramoto-Sakaguchi model from the basic circuit equations governing two coupled Wien-bridge oscillators. A Wien-bridge oscillator is a particular realization of a tunable autonomous oscillator that makes use of frequency filtering (via an RC bandpass filter) and positive feedback (via an operational amplifier). In the past few years, such oscillators have started to be utilized in synchronization studies. We first show that the Wien-bridge circuit equations can be cast in the form of a coupled pair of van der Pol equations. Subsequently, by applying the method of multiple time scales, we derive the differential equations that govern the slow evolution of the oscillator phases and amplitudes. These equations are directly reminiscent of the Kuramoto-Sakaguchi-type models for the study of synchronization. We analyze the resulting system in terms of the existence and stability of various coupled oscillator solutions and explain on that basis how their synchronization emerges. The phase-amplitude equations are also compared numerically to the original circuit equations and good agreement is found. Finally, we report on experimental measurements of two coupled Wien-bridge oscillators and relate the results to the theoretical predictions.

Experimental study of synchronization of coupled electrical self-oscillators and comparison to the Sakaguchi-Kuramoto model.

We explore the collective phase dynamics of Wien-bridge oscillators coupled resistively. We carefully analyze the behavior of two coupled oscillators, obtaining a transformation from voltage to effective phase. From the phase dynamics we show that the coupling can be quantitatively described by Sakaguchi's modification to the Kuramoto model. We also examine an ensemble of oscillators whose frequencies are taken from a flat distribution within a fixed frequency interval. We characterize in detail the synchronized cluster, its initial formation, as well as its effect on unsynchronized oscillators, all as a function of a global coupling strength.

Synchronization in phase-coupled Kuramoto oscillator networks with axonal delay and synaptic plasticity.

We explore both analytically and numerically an ensemble of coupled phase oscillators governed by a Kuramoto-type system of differential equations. However, we have included the effects of time delay (due to finite signal-propagation speeds) and network plasticity (via dynamic coupling constants) inspired by the Hebbian learning rule in neuroscience. When time delay and learning effects combine, interesting synchronization phenomena are observed. We investigate the formation of spatiotemporal patterns in both one- and two-dimensional oscillator lattices with periodic boundary conditions and comment on the role of dimensionality.

Nonlinear localized modes in two-dimensional electrical lattices.

We report the observation of spontaneous localization of energy in two spatial dimensions in the context of nonlinear electrical lattices. Both stationary and moving self-localized modes were generated experimentally and theoretically in a family of two-dimensional square as well as honeycomb lattices composed of 6 × 6 elements. Specifically, we find regions in driver voltage and frequency where stationary discrete breathers, also known as intrinsic localized modes (ILMs), exist and are stable due to the interplay of damping and spatially homogeneous driving. By introducing additional capacitors into the unit cell, these lattices can controllably induce mobile discrete breathers. When more than one such ILMs are experimentally generated in the lattice, the interplay of nonlinearity, discreteness, and wave interactions generates a complex dynamics wherein the ILMs attempt to maintain a minimum distance between one another. Numerical simulations show good agreement with experimental results and confirm that these phenomena qualitatively carry over to larger lattice sizes.

Generation of localized modes in an electrical lattice using subharmonic driving.

We show experimentally and numerically that an intrinsic localized mode (ILM) can be stably produced (and experimentally observed) via subharmonic, spatially homogeneous driving in the context of a nonlinear electrical lattice. The precise nonlinear spatial response of the system has been seen to depend on the relative location in frequency between the driver frequency, ω(d), and the bottom of the linear dispersion curve, ω(0). If ω(d)/2 lies just below ω(0), then a single ILM can be generated in a 32-node lattice, whereas, when ω(d)/2 lies within the dispersion band, a spatially extended waveform resembling a train of ILMs results. To our knowledge, and despite its apparently broad relevance, such an experimental observation of subharmonically driven ILMs has not been previously reported.

Discrete breathers in a nonlinear electric line: modeling, computation, and experiment.

We study experimentally and numerically the existence and stability properties of discrete breathers in a periodic nonlinear electric line. The electric line is composed of single cell nodes, containing a varactor diode and an inductor, coupled together in a periodic ring configuration through inductors and driven uniformly by a harmonic external voltage source. A simple model for each cell is proposed by using a nonlinear form for the varactor characteristics through the current and capacitance dependence on the voltage. For an electrical line composed of 32 elements, we find the regions, in driver voltage and frequency, where n-peaked breather solutions exist and characterize their stability. The results are compared to experimental measurements with good quantitative agreement. We also examine the spontaneous formation of n-peaked breathers through modulational instability of the homogeneous steady state. The competition between different discrete breathers seeded by the modulational instability eventually leads to stationary n-peaked solutions whose precise locations is seen to sensitively depend on the initial conditions.

Traveling and stationary intrinsic localized modes and their spatial control in electrical lattices.

This work focuses on the production of both stationary and traveling intrinsic localized modes (ILMs), also known as discrete breathers, in two closely related electrical lattices; we demonstrate experimentally that the interplay between these two ILM types can be utilized for the purpose of spatial control. We describe a novel mechanism that is responsible for the motion of driven ILMs in this system, and quantify this effect by modeling in some detail the electrical components comprising the lattice.

Discrete breathers in a forced-damped array of coupled pendula: modeling, computation, and experiment.

In this work, we present a mechanical example of an experimental realization of a stability reversal between on-site and intersite centered localized modes. A corresponding realization of a vanishing of the Peierls-Nabarro barrier allows for an experimentally observed enhanced mobility of the localized modes near the reversal point. These features are supported by detailed numerical computations of the stability and mobility of the discrete breathers in this system of forced and damped coupled pendula. Furthermore, additional exotic features of the relevant model, such as dark breathers are briefly discussed.

Learning-rate-dependent clustering and self-development in a network of coupled phase oscillators.

We investigate the role of the learning rate in a Kuramoto Model of coupled phase oscillators in which the coupling coefficients dynamically vary according to a Hebbian learning rule. According to the Hebbian theory, a synapse between two neurons is strengthened if they are simultaneously coactive. Two stable synchronized clusters in antiphase emerge when the learning rate is larger than a critical value. In such a fast learning scenario, the network eventually constructs itself into an all-to-all coupled structure, regardless of initial conditions in connectivity. In contrast, when learning is slower than this critical value, only a single synchronized cluster can develop. Extending our analysis, we explore whether self-development of neuronal networks can be achieved through an interaction between spontaneous neural synchronization and Hebbian learning. We find that self-development of such neural systems is impossible if learning is too slow. Finally, we demonstrate that similar to the acquisition and consolidation of long-term memory, this network is capable of generating and remembering stable patterns.

Patterns of traveling intrinsic localized modes in a driven electrical lattice.

The emergence of very stable traveling intrinsic localized modes (ILMs) locked to a uniform driver is demonstrated in a discrete electrical transmission line. The speed of these traveling ILMs is tunable by the driver amplitude and frequency. It is found to be quite sensitive to the ratio of intersite to on-site nonlinearity. The number of traveling ILMs can also be selected via the driving conditions and appears to be the result of a spatiotemporal pattern selection process.

Study of intrinsic localized vibrational modes in micromechanical oscillator arrays.

Intrinsic localized modes (ILMs) have been observed in micromechanical cantilever arrays, and their creation, locking, interaction, and relaxation dynamics in the presence of a driver have been studied. The micromechanical array is fabricated in a 300 nm thick silicon-nitride film on a silicon substrate, and consists of up to 248 cantilevers of two alternating lengths. To observe the ILMs in this experimental system a line-shaped laser beam is focused on the 1D cantilever array, and the reflected beam is captured with a fast charge coupled device camera. The array is driven near its highest frequency mode with a piezoelectric transducer. Numerical simulations of the nonlinear Klein-Gordon lattice have been carried out to assist with the detailed interpretation of the experimental results. These include pinning and locking of the ILMs when the driver is on, collisions between ILMs, low frequency excitation modes of the locked ILMs and their relaxation behavior after the driver is turned off.