arXiv subjects

Ron Lifshitz

Publications and source records attributed to Ron Lifshitz.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2010

Homoclinic orbits and chaos in a pair of parametrically-driven coupled nonlinear resonators

We study the dynamics of a pair of parametrically-driven coupled nonlinear mechanical resonators of the kind that is typically encountered in applications involving microelectromechanical and nanoelectromechanical systems (MEMS & NEMS). We take advantage of the weak damping that characterizes these systems to perform a multiple-scales analysis and obtain amplitude equations, describing the slow dynamics of the system. This picture allows us to expose the existence of homoclinic orbits in the dynamics of the integrable part of the slow equations of motion. Using a version of the high-dimensional Melnikov approach, developed by Kovacic and Wiggins [Physica D, 57, 185 (1992)], we are able to obtain explicit parameter values for which these orbits persist in the full system, consisting of both Hamiltonian and non-Hamiltonian perturbations, to form so-called Shilnikov orbits, indicating a loss of integrability and the existence of chaos. Our analytical calculations of Shilnikov orbits are confirmed numerically.

nlin.CD↗

arXiv2010

Observation of Log-Periodic Oscillations in the Quantum Dynamics of Electrons on the One-Dimensional Fibonacci Quasicrystal

We revisit the question of quantum dynamics of electrons on the off-diagonal Fibonacci tight-binding model. We find that typical dynamical quantities, such as the probability of an electron to remain in its original position as a function of time, display log-periodic oscillations on top of the leading-order power-law decay. These periodic oscillations with the logarithm of time are similar to the oscillations that are known to exist with the logarithm of temperature in the specific heat of Fibonacci electrons, yet they offer new possibilities for the experimental observation of this unique phenomenon.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2009

Intrinsic localized modes in parametrically-driven arrays of nonlinear resonators

We study intrinsic localized modes (ILMs), or solitons, in arrays of parametrically-driven nonlinear resonators with application to microelectromechanical and nanoelectromechanical systems (MEMS and NEMS). The analysis is performed using an amplitude equation in the form of a nonlinear Schroedinger equation with a term corresponding to nonlinear damping (also known as a forced complex Ginzburg-Landau equation), which is derived directly from the underlying equations of motion of the coupled resonators, using the method of multiple scales. We investigate the creation, stability, and interaction of ILMs, show that they can form bound states, and that under certain conditions one ILM can split into two. Our findings are confirmed by simulations of the underlying equations of motion of the resonators, suggesting possible experimental tests of the theory.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2008

Nanotechnology and Quasicrystals: From self assembly to photonic applications

After providing a concise overview on quasicrystals and their discovery more than a quarter of a century ago, I consider the unexpected interplay between nanotechnology and quasiperiodic crystals. Of particular relevance are efforts to fabricate artificial functional micro- or nanostructures, as well as efforts to control the self-assembly of nanostructures, where current knowledge about the possibility of having long-range order without periodicity can provide significant advantages. I discuss examples of systems ranging from artificial metamaterials for photonic applications, through self-assembled soft matter, to surface waves and optically-induced nonlinear photonic quasicrystals.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2008

Bloch-like Electronic Wave Functions in Two-Dimensional Quasicrystals

Electrons in quasicrystals generically possess critical wave functions that are neither exponentially-localized nor extended, but rather decay algebraically in space. Nevertheless, motivated by recent calculations on the square and cubic Fibonacci quasicrystals, we investigate whether it is possible to obtain extended wave functions expressed as linear combinations of degenerate, or nearly-degenerate, critical eigenfunctions. We find that not only is this possible, but that the wave functions that emerge are Bloch-like, exhibiting the quasiperiodic long-range order of the underlying quasicrystal. We discuss the significance of this result for the study of electronic properties of real quasicrystals.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2008

Pattern selection in parametrically-driven arrays of nonlinear resonators

We study the problem of pattern selection in an array of parametrically-driven nonlinear resonators with application to microelectromechanical and nanoelectromechanical systems (MEMS & NEMS), using an amplitude equation recently derived by Bromberg, Cross, and Lifshitz [PRE 73, 016214 (2006)]. We describe the transitions between standing-wave patterns of different wave numbers as the drive amplitude is varied either quasistatically, abruptly, or as a linear ramp in time. We find novel hysteretic effects, which are confirmed by numerical integration of the original equations of motion of the interacting nonlinear resonators.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2008

Classical to quantum transition of a driven nonlinear nanomechanical resonator

Much experimental effort is invested these days in fabricating nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) that are sufficiently small, cold, and clean, so as to approach quantum mechanical behavior as their typical quantum energy scale $\hbarΩ$ becomes comparable to that of the ambient thermal energy $k_{B}T$. Such systems will hopefully enable one to observe the quantum behavior of human-made objects, and test some of the basic principles of quantum mechanics. Here we expand and elaborate on our recent suggestion [PRL 99 (2007) 040404] to exploit the nonlinear nature of a nanoresonator in order to observe its transition into the quantum regime. We study this transition for an isolated resonator, as well as one that is coupled to a heat bath at either zero or finite temperature. We argue that by exploiting nonlinearities, quantum dynamics can be probed using technology that is almost within reach. Numerical solutions of the equations of motion display the first quantum corrections to classical dynamics that appear as the classical-to-quantum transition occurs. This provides practical signatures to look for in future experiments with NEMS resonators.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2008

In search of multipolar order on the Penrose tiling

Based on Monte Carlo calculations, multipolar ordering on the Penrose tiling, relevant for two-dimensional molecular adsorbates on quasicrystalline surfaces and for nanomagnetic arrays, has been analyzed. These initial investigations are restricted to multipolar rotors of rank one through four - described by spherical harmonics Ylm with l=1...4 and restricted to m=0 - positioned on the vertices of the rhombic Penrose tiling. At first sight, the ground states of odd-parity multipoles seem to exhibit long-range multipolar order, indicated by the appearance of a superstructure in the form of the decagonal Hexagon-Boat-Star tiling, in agreement with previous investigations of dipolar systems. Yet careful analysis establishes that long-range multipolar order is absent in all cases investigated here, and only short-range order exists. This result should be taken as a warning for any future analysis of order in either real or simulated arrangements of multipoles on quasiperiodic templates.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2008

Nonlinear Photonic Quasicrystals for Novel Optical Devices

Two well-known methods for the design of quasicrystal models are used to create novel nonlinear optical devices. These devices are useful for efficient three-wave mixing of several different processes, and therefore offer greater flexibility with respect to the more common periodic nonlinear photonic crystals. We demonstrate applications for polarization switching as well as multi-wavelength and multi-directional frequency doubling. The generalized dual grid method is proven to be efficient for designing photonic quasicrystals for one-dimensional collinear devices as well as elaborate two-dimensional multi-directional devices. The cut and project method is physically realized by sending finite-width optical beams at an irrational angle through a periodic two-dimensional nonlinear photonic crystal. This enables two simultaneous collinear optical processes that can be varied by changing the angle of the beams.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2007

Electronic Energy Spectra of Square and Cubic Fibonacci Quasicrystals

Understanding the electronic properties of quasicrystals, in particular the dependence of these properties on dimension, is among the interesting open problems in the field of quasicrystals. We investigate an off-diagonal tight-binding Hamiltonian on the separable square and cubic Fibonacci quasicrystals. We use the well-studied singular-continuous energy spectrum of the 1-dimensional Fibonacci quasicrystal to obtain exact results regarding the transitions between different spectral behaviors of the square and cubic quasicrystals. We use analytical results for the addition of 1d spectra to obtain bounds on the range in which the higher-dimensional spectra contain an absolutely continuous component. We also perform a direct numerical study of the spectra, obtaining good results for the square Fibonacci quasicrystal, and rough estimates for the cubic Fibonacci quasicrystal.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2007

Classical to Quantum Transition of a Driven Nonlinear Nanomechanical Resonator

We seek the first indications that a nanoelectromechanical system (NEMS) is entering the quantum domain as its mass and temperature are decreased. We find them by studying the transition from classical to quantum behavior of a driven nonlinear Duffing resonator. Numerical solutions of the equations of motion, operating in the bistable regime of the resonator, demonstrate that the quantum Wigner function gradually deviates from the corresponding classical phase-space probability density. These clear differences that develop due to nonlinearity can serve as experimental evidence, in the near future, that NEMS resonators are entering the quantum domain.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2007

Experimental Confirmation of the General Solution to the Multiple Phase Matching Problem

We recently described a general solution to the phase matching problem that arises when one wishes to perform an arbitrary number of nonlinear optical processes in a single medium [PRL 95 (2005) 133901]. Here we outline in detail the implementation of the solution for a one dimensional photonic quasicrystal which acts as a simultaneous frequency doubler for three independent optical beams. We confirm this solution experimentally using an electric field poled KTiOPO$_4$ crystal. In optimizing the device, we find - contrary to common practice - that simple duty cycles of 100% and 0% may yield the highest efficiencies, and show that our device is more efficient than a comparable device based on periodic quasi-phase-matching.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2007

What is a crystal?

Almost 25 years have passed since Shechtman discovered quasicrystals, and 15 years since the Commission on Aperiodic Crystals of the International Union of Crystallography put forth a provisional definition of the term crystal to mean ``any solid having an essentially discrete diffraction diagram.'' Have we learned enough about crystallinity in the last 25 years, or do we need more time to explore additional physical systems? There is much confusion and contradiction in the literature in using the term crystal. Are we ready now to propose a permanent definition for crystal to be used by all? I argue that time has come to put a sense of order in all the confusion.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2006

Soft quasicrystals - Why are they stable?

In the last two years we have witnessed the exciting experimental discovery of soft matter with nontrivial quasiperiodic long-range order - a new form of matter termed a soft quasicrystal. Two groups have independently discovered such order in soft matter: Zeng et al. [Nature 428 (2004) 157] in a system of dendrimer liquid crystals; and Takano et al. [J. Polym. Sci. Polym. Phys. 43 (2005) 2427] in a system of ABC star-shaped polymers. These newly discovered soft quasicrystals not only provide exciting platforms for the fundamental study of both quasicrystals and of soft matter, but also hold the promise for new applications based on self-assembled nanomaterials with unique physical properties that take advantage of the quasiperiodicity, such as complete and isotropic photonic band-gap materials. Here we provide a concise review of the emerging field of soft quasicrystals, suggesting that the existence of two natural length-scales, along with 3-body interactions, may constitute the underlying source of their stability.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2005

Dislocation dynamics in a dodecagonal quasiperiodic structure

We have developed a set of numerical tools for the quantitative analysis of defect dynamics in quasiperiodic structures. We have applied these tools to study dislocation motion in the dynamical equation of Lifshitz and Petrich [Phys. Rev. Lett. 79 (1997) 1261] whose steady state solutions include a quasiperiodic structure with dodecagonal symmetry. Arbitrary dislocations, parameterized by the homotopy group of the D-torus, are injected as initial conditions and quantitatively followed as the equation evolves in real time. We show that for strong diffusion the results for dislocation climb velocity are similar for the dodecagonal and the hexagonal patterns, but that for weak diffusion the dodecagonal pattern exhibits a unique pinning of the dislocation, reflecting its quasiperiodic nature.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2005

Synchronization by Reactive Coupling and Nonlinear Frequency Pulling

We present a detailed analysis of a model for the synchronization of nonlinear oscillators due to reactive coupling and nonlinear frequency pulling. We study the model for the mean field case of all-to-all coupling, deriving results for the initial onset of synchronization as the coupling or nonlinearity increase, and conditions for the existence of the completely synchronized state when all the oscillators evolve with the same frequency. Explicit results are derived for Lorentzian, triangular, and top-hat distributions of oscillator frequencies. Numerical simulations are used to construct complete phase diagrams for these distributions.

nlin.AO↗

arXiv2005

Electronic energy spectra and wave functions on the square Fibonacci tiling

We study the electronic energy spectra and wave functions on the square Fibonacci tiling, using an off-diagonal tight-binding model, in order to determine the exact nature of the transitions between different spectral behaviors, as well as the scaling of the total bandwidth as it becomes finite. The macroscopic degeneracy of certain energy values in the spectrum is invoked as a possible mechanism for the emergence of extended electronic Bloch wave functions as the dimension changes from one to two.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2005

Response of discrete nonlinear systems with many degrees of freedom

We study the response of a large array of coupled nonlinear oscillators to parametric excitation, motivated by the growing interest in the nonlinear dynamics of microelectromechanical and nanoelectromechanical systems (MEMS and NEMS). Using a multiscale analysis, we derive an amplitude equation that captures the slow dynamics of the coupled oscillators just above the onset of parametric oscillations. The amplitude equation that we derive here from first principles exhibits a wavenumber dependent bifurcation similar in character to the behavior known to exist in fluids undergoing the Faraday wave instability. We confirm this behavior numerically and make suggestions for testing it experimentally with MEMS and NEMS resonators.

cond-mat.other↗