Nonreciprocal parametric amplification of elastic waves in supersonic space-time modulated media

Abstract

Space-time modulated elastic media, whose material properties vary in both space and time, have attracted significant attention as a promising strategy for achieving nonreciprocal propagation of elastic waves. To date, most studies have focused on systems with subsonic modulation, where the phase velocity of the modulation wave is lower than that of the guided elastic waves. In contrast, wave propagation under supersonic modulation remains largely unexplored, and the associated nonreciprocal phenomena present an open challenge. In this work, we investigate the dynamic response of elastic longitudinal waves propagating through a spatially bounded medium subjected to supersonic modulation of its elastic properties. We show that supersonic modulation gives rise to directional wavenumber bandgaps in the dispersion diagram, characterized by vanishing wavenumbers. Using a theoretical framework based on mode-coupling theory, we reveal how supersonic modulation governs amplitude modulation and frequency conversion in wave transmission and reflection at spatial interfaces. This leads to nonreciprocal parametric amplification and frequency conversion, phenomena not previously reported in bounded elastic media. Remarkably, the observed parametric amplification is not driven by an imaginary component of the wavenumber, but instead arises from the interference between counter-propagating Floquet-Bloch modes at spatial interfaces. Numerical simulations corroborate the theoretical predictions and illustrate nonreciprocal amplification and frequency conversion effects. Our findings pave the way for the design of nonreciprocal elastic wave devices with advanced functionalities such as signal processing, energy amplification, and frequency conversion.