arXiv subjects

Rajesh Chaunsali

Publications and source records attributed to Rajesh Chaunsali.

26 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2019

Elastic Weyl points and surface arc states in 3D structures

The study of Weyl points in electronic systems has inspired many recent researches in classical systems such as photonic and acoustic lattices. Here we show how the Weyl physics can also inspire the design of novel elastic structures. We construct a single-phase 3D structure, an analogue of the AA-stacked honeycomb lattice, and predict the existence of Weyl points with opposite topological charges (${\pm 1}$), elastic Fermi arcs, and the associated gapless topologically protected surface states. We employ full-scale numerical simulations on the elastic 3D structure, and present a clear visualization of topological surface states that are directional and robust. Such designed lattices can pave the way for novel vibration control and energy harvesting on structures that are ubiquitous in many engineering applications.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2019

Mechanical analogue of a Majorana bound state

The discovery of topologically non-trivial electronic systems has opened a new age in condensed matter research. From topological insulators to topological superconductors and Weyl semimetals, it is now understood that some of the most remarkable and robust phases in electronic systems (e.g., Quantum Hall or Anomalous Quantum Hall) are the result of topological protection. These powerful ideas have recently begun to be explored also in bosonic systems. Topologically protected acoustic, mechanical, and optical edge states have been demonstrated in a number of systems that recreate the requisite topological conditions. Such states that propagate without backscattering could find important applications in communications and energy technologies. In this work we demonstrate the mechanical analogue of a topologically bound state, a different class of non-propagating protected state that cannot be destroyed by local perturbations. These are well known in electronic systems, such as Majorana bound states in topological superconductors, but remain largely unexplored in a bosonic setting. We implement topological binding by creating a Kekulé distortion vortex on a two-dimensional mechanical honeycomb superlattice.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2018

Experimental demonstration of topological waveguiding in elastic plates with local resonators

It is recent that the emergence of topological insulators in condensed matter physics has inspired analogous wave phenomena in mechanical systems, mostly in the setting of discrete lattice models. Here we report a numerical and experimental demonstration of topological waveguiding in a continuum plate. We take a ubiquitous design of a bolted elastic plate and show that such a design allows us to invoke the pseudo-spin Hall effect at remarkably low frequencies. We harness the complex interaction of the bolts and the plate to show the existence of a pair of double Dirac cones near the resonant frequency of the bolt. The manipulation of bolted patterns results in the opening of multiple topological bandgaps, including a complete bandgap that forbids all plate modes. We demonstrate that inside this bandgap, the interface between two topologically distinct zones can guide flexural waves crisply around sharp bends.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2018

Elastic Wannier-Stark Ladders and Bloch Oscillations in 1D Granular Crystals

We report the numerical and experimental study of elastic Wannier-Stark Ladders and Bloch Oscillations in a tunable one-dimensional granular chain consisting of cylindrical particles. The Wannier-Stark Ladders are obtained by tuning the contact angles to introduce a gradient in the contact stiffness along the granular chain. These ladders manifest as resonant modes localized in the space. When excited at the corresponding resonant frequencies, we demonstrate the existence of time-resolved Bloch Oscillations. The direct velocity measurements using Laser Doppler Vibrometry agree well with the numerical simulation results. We also show the possibility of further tailoring these Bloch Oscillations by numerical simulations. Such tunable systems could be useful for applications involving the spatial localization of elastic energy.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2018

Subwavelength and directional control of flexural waves in zone-folding induced topological plates

Inspired by the quantum spin Hall effect shown by topological insulators, we propose a plate structure that can be used to demonstrate the pseudo-spin Hall effect for flexural waves. The system consists of a thin plate with periodically arranged resonators mounted on its top surface. We extend a technique based on the plane wave expansion method to identify a double Dirac cone emerging due to the zone-folding in frequency band structures. This particular design allows us to move the double Dirac cone to a lower frequency than the resonating frequency of local resonators. We then manipulate the pattern of local resonators to open subwavelength Bragg band gaps that are topologically distinct. Building on this method, we verify numerically that a waveguide at an interface between two topologically distinct resonating plate structures can be used for guiding low-frequency, spin-dependent one-way flexural waves along a desired path with bends.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2017

Dial-in Topological Metamaterials Based on Bistable Stewart Platform

Recently, there have been significant efforts to guide mechanical energy in structures by relying on a novel topological framework popularized by the discovery of topological insulators. Here, we propose a topological metamaterial system based on the design of the Stewart Platform, which can not only guide mechanical waves robustly in a desired path, but also can be tuned in situ to change this wave path at will. Without resorting to any active materials, the current system harnesses bistablilty in its unit cells, such that tuning can be performed simply by a dial-in action. Consequently, a topological transition mechanism inspired by the quantum valley Hall effect can be achieved. We show the possibility of tuning in a variety of topological and traditional waveguides in the same system, and numerically investigate key qualitative and quantitative differences between them. We observe that even though both types of waveguides can lead to significant wave transmission for a certain frequency range, topological waveguides are distinctive as they support robust, back scattering immune, one-way wave propagation.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2017

Extreme control of impulse transmission by cylinder-based nonlinear phononic crystals

We present a novel device that can offer two extremes of elastic wave propagation --- nearly complete transmission and strong attenuation under impulse excitation. The mechanism of this highly tunable device relies on intermixing effects of dispersion and nonlinearity. The device consists of identical cylinders arranged in a chain, which interact with each other as per nonlinear Hertz's contact law. For a `dimer' configuration, i.e., two different contact angles alternating in the chain, we analytically, numerically, and experimentally show that impulse excitation can either propagate as a localized wave, or it can travel as a highly dispersive wave. Remarkably, these extremes can be achieved in this periodic arrangement simply by \textit{in-situ} control of contact angles between cylinders. We close the discussion by highlighting the key characteristics of the mechanisms that facilitate strong attenuation of incident impulse. These include low frequency to high frequency (LF-HF) scattering, and turbulence-like cascading in a periodic system. We thus envision that these adaptive, cylinder-based nonlinear phononic crystals, in conjunction with conventional impact mitigation mechanisms, could be used to design highly tunable and efficient impact manipulation devices.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2017

Demonstrating an in-situ topological band transition in cylindrical granular chains

We numerically investigate and experimentally demonstrate an in-situ topological band transition in a highly tunable mechanical system made of cylindrical granular particles. This system allows us to tune its inter-particle stiffness in a controllable way, simply by changing the contact angles between the cylinders. The spatial variation of particles' stiffness results in an in-situ transition of the system's topology. This manifests as the emergence of a boundary mode in the finite system, which we observe experimentally via laser Doppler vibrometry. When two topologically different systems are placed adjacently, we analytically predict and computationally and experimentally demonstrate the existence of a finite-frequency topologically protected mode at their interface.

nlin.PS↗