Analysis of vibrational resonance in bi-harmonically driven plasma

Vibrational resonance in a neuron-astrocyte coupled model

Recent findings have revealed that not only neurons but also astrocytes, a special type of glial cells, are major players of neuronal information processing. It is now widely accepted that they contribute to the regulation of their microenvironment by cross-talking with neurons via gliotransmitters. In this context, we here study the phenomenon of vibrational resonance in neurons by considering their interaction with astrocytes. Our analysis of a neuron-astrocyte pair reveals that intracellular dynamics of astrocytes can induce a double vibrational resonance effect in the weak signal detection performance of a neuron, exhibiting two distinct wells centred at different high-frequency driving amplitudes. We also identify the underlying mechanism of this behaviour, showing that the interaction of widely separated time scales of neurons, astrocytes and driving signals is the key factor for the emergence and control of double vibrational resonance. This article is part of the theme issue 'Vibrational and stochastic resonance in driven nonlinear systems (part 2)'.

On representing noise by deterministic excitations for interpreting the stochastic resonance phenomenon

Adding noise to a system can 'improve' its dynamic behaviour, for example, it can increase its response or signal-to-noise ratio. The corresponding phenomenon, called stochastic resonance, has found numerous applications in physics, neuroscience, biology, medicine and mechanics. Replacing stochastic excitations with high-frequency ones was shown to be a viable approach to analysing several linear and nonlinear dynamic systems. For these systems, the influence of the stochastic and high-frequency excitations appears to be qualitatively similar. The present paper concerns the discussion of the applicability of this 'deterministic' approach to stochastic systems. First, the conventional nonlinear bi-stable system is briefly revisited. Then dynamical systems with multiplicative noise are considered and the validity of replacing stochastic excitations with deterministic ones for such systems is discussed. Finally, we study oscillatory systems with nonlinear damping and analyse the effects of stochastic and deterministic excitations on such systems. This article is part of the theme issue 'Vibrational and stochastic resonance in driven nonlinear systems (part 1)'.

The effect of high-frequency stochastic actions on the low-frequency behaviour of dynamic systems

The dynamic system described by a finite number of first-order differential equations is considered. The right side of each equation is a sum of a slow, deterministic and, in the general case, nonlinear function of dynamic variables and a stochastic excitation. The stochastic action is a superposition of a finite number of independent random processes with coefficients depending on dynamic variables and slow time. The problem statement is oriented to applications in the field of driven systems. The analysis is based on the concept of vibration mechanics proposed by I. I. Blekhman. The modified method of direct separation of slow and fast motions uses the explicit introduction of a small parameter and some ideas of the two-scale technique. The general formulas for vibrational forces (or fluxes) are obtained. These additional terms appear in the resulting system for averaged motion instead of the stochastic terms to make the averaged system equivalent to the initial stochastic system with respect to slow motions and, in particular, to low-frequency resonances. As an example, the model of a vibration machine for bulk material processing is considered. The stochastic effect is caused by random oscillations of the bulk material mass. It is transformed into a modification of the machine's frequency characteristics leading to a specific stochastic resonance. This article is part of the theme issue 'Vibrational and stochastic resonance in driven nonlinear systems (part 1)'.

Vibrational resonances in driven oscillators with position-dependent mass

The vibrational resonance (VR) phenomenon has received a great deal of research attention over the two decades since its introduction. The wide range of theoretical and experimental results obtained has, however, been confined to VR in systems with constant mass. We now extend the VR formalism to encompass systems with position-dependent mass (PDM). We consider a generalized classical counterpart of the quantum mechanical nonlinear oscillator with PDM. By developing a theoretical framework for determining the response amplitude of PDM systems, we examine and analyse their VR phenomenona, obtain conditions for the occurrence of resonances, show that the role played by PDM can be both inductive and contributory, and suggest that PDM effects could usefully be explored to maximize the efficiency of devices being operated in VR modes. Our analysis suggests new directions for the investigation of VR in a general class of PDM systems. This article is part of the theme issue 'Vibrational and stochastic resonance in driven nonlinear systems (part 1)'.

Acoustic vibrational resonance in a Rayleigh-Plesset bubble oscillator

The phenomenon of vibrational resonance (VR) has been investigated in a Rayleigh-Plesset oscillator for a gas bubble oscillating in an incompressible liquid while driven by a dual-frequency force consisting of high-frequency, amplitude-modulated, weak, acoustic waves. The complex equation of the Rayleigh-Plesset bubble oscillator model was expressed as the dynamics of a classical particle in a potential well of the Liénard type, thus allowing us to use both numerical and analytic approaches to investigate the occurrence of VR. We provide clear evidence that an acoustically-driven bubble oscillates in a time-dependent single or double-well potential whose properties are determined by the density of the liquid and its surface tension. We show both theoretically and numerically that, besides the VR effect facilitated by the variation of the parameters on which the high-frequency depends, amplitude modulation, the properties of the liquid in which the gas bubble oscillates contribute significantly to the occurrence of VR. In addition, we discuss the observation of multiple resonances and their origin for the double-well case, as well as their connection to the low frequency, weak, acoustic force field.

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

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.

Designing efficient nonlinear dynamic resonances for weak signal amplification remains a challenge. Here, the authors demonstrate a resonance manipulation strategy able to enhance weak signals in a nonlinear oscillator consisting of an optically-probed driven nano-electromechanical resonator.

Quantum vibrational resonance in a dual-frequency-driven Tietz-Hua quantum well

We investigate the response of a quantum particle in the Tietz-Hua quantum potential driven by biharmonic fields: a low-frequency force and a very high frequency force. The response is characterized by the occurrence of a maximum in the first-order transition probability amplitude |s|^{2} under the influence of the applied fields. It is shown that in the absence of the high-frequency component of the applied fields, |s|^{2} shows a distinct sequence of resonances, whereas an increase in the amplitude of the high-frequency field induces minima in |s|^{2}. However, the |s|^{2} maximum occurs in the low-frequency regime where it may be considered otherwise weak in the presence of a single harmonic force.

Vibrational resonance in an inhomogeneous medium with periodic dissipation

The role of nonlinear dissipation in vibrational resonance (VR) is investigated in an inhomogeneous system characterized by a symmetric and spatially periodic potential and subjected to nonuniform state-dependent damping and a biharmonic driving force. The contributions of the parameters of the high-frequency signal to the system's effective dissipation are examined theoretically in comparison to linearly damped systems, for which the parameter of interest is the effective stiffness in the equation of slow vibration. We show that the VR effect can be enhanced by varying the nonlinear dissipation parameters and that it can be induced by a parameter that is shared by the damping inhomogeneity and the system potential. Furthermore, we have apparently identified the origin of the nonlinear-dissipation-enhanced response: We provide evidence of its connection to a Hopf bifurcation, accompanied by monotonic attractor enlargement in the VR regime.