Fast, robust and amplified transfer of topological edge modes on time-varying mechanical chain

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a method to rapidly and reliably transfer topological vibrational edge modes in a mechanical chain by controlling spring stiffness, leveraging topological properties for robust energy transfer.

Contribution

It introduces a control scheme for fast, robust transfer of topological edge modes in a mechanical chain modeled after the SSH system.

Findings

High-fidelity transfer achieved

Robustness against disorder demonstrated

Energy amplification of edge mode achieved

Abstract

We show that it is possible to successfully, rapidly and robustly transfer a topological vibrational edge mode across a time-varying mechanical chain. The stiffness values of the springs of the chain are arranged in an alternating staggered way, such that we obtain a mechanical analog of the quantum Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model which exhibits a non trivial topological phase. Using optimal control methods, we are able to design control schemes for driving the stiffness parameters, such that the transfer is done with high fidelity, speed and robustness against disorder as well as energy amplification of the target edge mode.