Zero-dispersion stochastic resonance

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)'.

Frequency stabilization and noise-induced spectral narrowing in resonators with zero dispersion

Mechanical resonators are widely used as precision clocks and sensitive detectors that rely on the stability of their eigenfrequencies. The phase noise is determined by different factors including thermal noise, frequency noise of the resonator and noise in the feedback circuitry. Increasing the vibration amplitude can mitigate some of these effects but the improvements are limited by nonlinearities that are particularly strong for miniaturized micro- and nano-mechanical systems. Here we design a micromechanical resonator with non-monotonic dependence of the eigenfrequency on energy. Near the extremum, where the dispersion of the eigenfrequency is zero, the system regains certain characteristics of a linear resonator, albeit at large amplitudes. The spectral peak undergoes narrowing when the noise intensity is increased. With the resonator serving as the frequency-selecting element in a feedback loop, the phase noise at the extremum amplitude is ~3 times smaller than the minimal noise in the conventional nonlinear regime.

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.

On noise induced Poincaré-Andronov-Hopf bifurcation

It has been numerically seen that noise introduces stable well-defined oscillatory state in a system with unstable limit cycles resulting from subcritical Poincaré-Andronov-Hopf (or simply Hopf) bifurcation. This phenomenon is analogous to the well known stochastic resonance in the sense that it effectively converts noise into useful energy. Herein, we clearly explain how noise induced imperfection in the bifurcation is a generic reason for such a phenomenon to occur and provide explicit analytical calculations in order to explain the typical square-root dependence of the oscillations' amplitude on the noise level below a certain threshold value. Also, we argue that the noise can bring forth oscillations in average sense even in the absence of a limit cycle. Thus, we bring forward the inherent general mechanism of the noise induced Hopf bifurcation naturally realisable across disciplines.

Noise effects on gap wave propagation in a nonlinear discrete LC transmission line

We report here the results of numerical investigation of noise effects on the propagation in a nonlinear waveguide modeled by a discrete electrical line. Considering a periodic signal of frequency exceeding the natural cutoff frequency of this system, we show that noise can be used to trigger soliton generation in the medium. Besides the classical stochastic resonance signature exhibited by each oscillator of the network, our simulation results reveal in particular that the signal-to-noise ratio remains almost constant in the whole network for an appropriate amount of noise. This interesting feature insures for the generated solitons a quality preserved propagation along the network.

Comment on "monostable array-enhanced stochastic resonance"

Lindner et al. [Phys. Rev. E 63, 051107 (2001)] have reported multiple stochastic resonances (SRs) in an array of underdamped monostable nonlinear oscillators. This is in contrast to the single SR observed earlier in a similar but isolated oscillator. Though the idea that such an effect might occur is intuitively reasonable, the notation and the interpretation of some of the major results seem confusing. These issues are identified and some of them are clarified. In addition, comments are made on two possible extensions of the central idea of Lindner et al.: one of these promises to provide much more striking manifestations of multiple SR in arrays; the other significantly widens the range of systems in which multiple SRs may be observed.

Monostable array-enhanced stochastic resonance

We present a simple nonlinear system that exhibits multiple distinct stochastic resonances. By adjusting the noise and coupling of an array of underdamped, monostable oscillators, we modify the array's natural frequencies so that the spectral response of a typical oscillator in an array of N oscillators exhibits N-1 different stochastic resonances. Such families of resonances may elucidate and facilitate a variety of noise-mediated cooperative phenomena, such as noise-enhanced propagation, in a broad class of similar nonlinear systems.

Intrawell stochastic resonance versus interwell stochastic resonance in underdamped bistable systems

We show that, for periodically driven noisy underdamped bistable systems, an intrawell stochastic resonance can exist, together with the conventional interwell stochastic resonance, resulting in a double maximum in the power spectral amplitude at the forcing frequency as a function of the noise intensity. The locations of the maxima correspond to matchings of deterministic and stochastic time scales in the system. In this paper we present experimental evidence of these phenomena and a phemonological nonadiabatic description in terms of a noise-controlled nonlinear dynamic resonance.