Synchronization driven reciprocity breaking

TL;DR

This paper presents a new method to break wave transmission reciprocity using synchronization of self-oscillators in aeroacoustic cavities, enabling directional control of wave transmission through nonlinear dynamics.

Contribution

It introduces a novel synchronization-based approach to reciprocity breaking, supported by experimental demonstration and a theoretical model, expanding wave control techniques.

Findings

Demonstrates nonreciprocal wave transmission via synchronization states

Shows robustness of nonreciprocal behavior against parameter variations

Provides a quantitative coupled mode theory for the nonlinear dynamics

Abstract

This study introduces a novel method to break wave transmission reciprocity by leveraging the synchronization of self-oscillators. An experimental demonstration with aeroacoustic cavities is presented. They behave as weakly nonlinear limit cycles when driven by a constant airflow, leading to self-oscillations which can couple to the surrounding waveguides via two ports. Incident waves from one port trigger anti-phase synchronization, causing destructive interference and low transmission, while waves from the opposite port induce in-phase synchronization, resulting in high transmission. This directional dependence effectively breaks reciprocity, where the operational bandwidth is defined by the synchronization region (Arnold tongue), and can be broader than resonance based methods. Experimental results show robust nonreciprocal behavior w.r.t. parameter changes. Moreover, a modified temporal coupled mode theory is proposed, explaining the system's nonlinear dynamics and scattering properties in a quantitative manner. This synchronization-based approach offers a new avenue for directional wave control, complementing traditional reciprocity breaking techniques, and offering an intrinsic loss-compensation emanating from the self-oscillation of meta-atoms.