Parity-Time Synthetic Phononic Media.

Classical systems containing cleverly devised combinations of loss and gain elements constitute extremely rich building units that can mimic non-Hermitian properties, which conventionally are attainable in quantum mechanics only. Parity-time (PT) symmetric media, also referred to as synthetic media, have been devised in many optical systems with the ground breaking potential to create nonreciprocal structures and one-way cloaks of invisibility. Here we demonstrate a feasible approach for the case of sound where the most important ingredients within synthetic materials, loss and gain, are achieved through electrically biased piezoelectric semiconductors.

Bulk and surface acoustic waves in solid-fluid Fibonacci layered materials.

We study theoretically the propagation and localization of acoustic waves in quasi-periodic structures made of solid and fluid layers arranged according to a Fibonacci sequence. We consider two types of structures: either a given Fibonacci sequence or a periodic repetition of a given sequence called Fibonacci superlattice. Various properties of these systems such as: the scaling law and the self-similarity of the transmission spectra or the power law behavior of the measure of the energy spectrum have been highlighted for waves of sagittal polarization in normal and oblique incidence.

Electromagnetic wave propagation in quasi-periodic photonic circuits.

We study theoretically and experimentally the properties of quasiperiodic one-dimensional serial loop structures made of segments and loops arranged according to a Fibonacci sequence (FS). Two systems are considered. (i) By inserting the FS horizontally between two waveguides, we give experimental evidence of the scaling behaviour of the amplitude and the phase of the transmission coefficient.

Propagation and localization of electromagnetic waves in quasiperiodic serial loop structures.

We study the propagation of electromagnetic waves in one-dimensional quasiperiodic photonic band gap structures made of serial loop structures separated by segments. Different quasiperiodic structures such as Fibonacci, Thue-Morse, Rudin-Shapiro, and double period are investigated with special focus on the Fibonacci structure. Depending on the lengths of the two arms constituting the loops, one can distinguish two particular cases.

Barley yellow rust in North America.

Yellow rust of barley is an invasive disease that was found in the past 10 years in North America. The causal agent, Puccinia striiformis f. sp.