Loss-compensated non-reciprocal scattering based on synchronization.

Breaking the reciprocity of wave propagation is a problem of fundamental interest, and a much-sought functionality in practical applications, both in photonics and phononics. Although it has been achieved using resonant linear scattering from cavities with broken time-reversal symmetry, such realizations have remained inescapably plagued by inherent passivity constraints, which make absorption losses unavoidable, leading to stringent limitations in transmitted power. In this work, we solve this problem by converting the cavity resonance into a limit cycle, exploiting the uncharted interplay between non-linearity, gain, and non-reciprocity.

Synchronization under saturable nonlinearity.

In this theoretical work, we introduce a nonlinear gain saturation law representative of the experimentally observed properties manifested by phenomena ranging from aeroacoustic shear layers in self-sustained cavity oscillations to flame heat release rate in thermoacoustic instabilities. Furthermore, this type of saturable gain may be relevant for a wider class of physical systems, such as active laser media in photonics. The nonlinearity discussed herein governs the fullscale behavior of a self-oscillator exhibiting linear loss under large amplitude perturbations, in contrast to the cubic damping and linear gain of the Van der Pol model.

Bridging the gap between annular and can-annular acoustic spectra.

In the literature on thermoacoustic instabilities in combustors, a distinction is typically made between annular and can-annular systems because these are the most common gas turbine architectures. In reality, however, annular combustors typically feature discretely symmetric elements, such as burner tubes, and can-annular combustors feature an azimuthally symmetric plenum at the turbine inlet. To better understand the general case in between the annular and can-annular extremes, we analyze the acoustic spectrum of an idealized can-annular combustion chamber with variable geometry, where the length of the axial gap distance beyond the ends of the cans-hence, the coupling strength-may be adjusted.

Smooth transformations and ruling out closed orbits in planar systems.

This work deals with planar dynamical systems with and without noise. In the first part, we seek to gain a refined understanding of such systems by studying their differential-geometric transformation properties under an arbitrary smooth mapping. Using elementary techniques, we obtain a unified picture of different classes of dynamical systems, some of which are classically viewed as distinct.

Exact potentials in multivariate Langevin equations.

Systems governed by a multivariate Langevin equation featuring an exact potential exhibit straightforward dynamics but are often difficult to recognize because, after a general coordinate change, the gradient flow becomes obscured by the Jacobian matrix of the mapping. In this work, a detailed analysis of the transformation rules for Langevin equations under general nonlinear mappings is presented. We show how to identify systems with exact potentials by understanding their differential-geometric properties.

Steady-state statistics, emergent patterns and intermittent energy transfer in a ring of oscillators.

Networks of coupled nonlinear oscillators model a broad class of physical, chemical and biological systems. Understanding emergent patterns in such networks is an ongoing effort with profound implications for different fields. In this work, we analytically and numerically study a symmetric ring of coupled self-oscillators of van der Pol type under external stochastic forcing.