arXiv subjects

Samer Houri

Publications and source records attributed to Samer Houri.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Efficient mapping and tracking the properties of micromechanical resonators using phase-lock loops with closely-spaced frequencies

Studying the dynamical behavior of micro- and nano-mechanical systems (MEMS and NEMS) is essential in various fields from nonlinear dynamics to quantum technologies. Hence, it is important to be able to precisely monitor the mechanical properties of MEMS and NEMS devices. In this work, we show how to track and spatially map various properties of a mechanical resonator, such as frequency shift, linewidth, and nonlinearity, by aptly choosing three closely-spaced drive frequencies and using phase-locked loops. This technique tracks changes in the system faster and more efficiently, without the need for repeated frequency sweeps of the oscillator response, simply by employing three phase-locked tones.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2025

Acoustically-Coupled MEMS Transducer Pairs with Loss and Gain

This work treats the dynamics of pairs of microelectromechanical ultrasound transducers (MUTs) that are immersed in water and acoustically coupled through the fluid medium. A series of these transducer pairs with varying diameters (and thus resonance frequency) and pitch separation (and thus coupling strength) are fabricated and measured. The work presented here models and quantifies the open-loop coupling between the MEMS transducer pairs and its dependence on pitch. Furthermore, a gain feedback loop is systematically applied to one of the device pair and the dynamics of the acoustically-coupled gain-loss system is investigated, and the formation of an exceptional-point or of an Hopf bifurcation is equally used to quantify the coupling coefficient. This work provides an experimental study of acoustic coupling in MUT transducers, as well as an exploration of the formation of exceptional points in acoustically-coupled MEMS transducers.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2025

Comparing the performance of direct and parametric drives for piezoelectric MEMS actuators

This work investigates and compares the response of piezoelectrically actuated nonlinear microelectromechanical devices (MEMS) to direct and to degenerate parametric drives. We describe the regime of degenerate parametric amplification in piezoelectric Duffing-type nonlinear MEMS devices using a single mode expansion, we then explore the existence of regions in parameter space where parametric excitation maybe advantageous compared to direct drive, which we label "parametric advantage". Analytical, experimental, and numerical verification demonstrates that parametric advantage can not exist if both pump and signal voltages are accounted for in the total voltage budget. This work determines non-dimensional scaling rules that can act as guidelines for selecting an optimal operating regime for degenerate parametric amplification.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2023

MEMS-EYE: A M/NEMS platform for the investigation of multi-physical and complex nonlinear systems

The ultimate goal of this research proposal is the creation of a micro-optomechanical intelligence. The proposal centers on the development and investigation of very large-scale integrated (VLSI) arrays of coupled M/NEMS devices as platforms for the experimental study of nonlinear dynamics of high-dimensional systems. The potential of VLSI M/NEMS arrays to function as advanced sensors will be demonstrated through the novel idea of a MEMS EYE, an electronics-free platform that combines imaging and pattern recognition functionality.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2022

A Kuramoto Network in a Single Nonlinear Microelectromechanical Device

This work presents a frequency multiplexed 3-limit cycles network in a multimode microelectromechanical nonlinear resonator. The network is composed of libration limit cycles and behaves in an analogous manner to a phase oscillator network. The libration limit cycles, being of low frequency, interact through the stress tuning of the resonator, and result in an all-to-all coupling that can be described by a Kuramoto model. Beyond the typically present cubic nonlinearity the modes in question do not require any special frequency ratios. Thus an interconnect free Kuramoto network is established within a single physical device without the need for electrical or optical coupling mechanisms between the individual elements.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2021

The Librator: A new dynamical regime for nonlinear microelectromechanical devices

We present a novel mode of operation for Duffing-type nonlinear microelectromechanical (MEMS) devices whereby a self-sustained multi-frequency output is generated. This new librator regime creates a limit cycle around a dynamical fixed point, i.e. around fixed points within the rotating frame, whereas a traditional oscillator generates a limit cycle around a static fixed point. The librator limit cycles thus created do not change the global topology of the rotating frame phase space, but are constrained by it. Due to the Duffing nonlinearity different types of limit cycles may be generated within the same phase space, with each type possessing distinct dynamical features. Transitioning between these limit cycles requires crossing homoclinic bifurcations, which is done without generating chaos as the phase space dynamics are two dimensional. This work opens the possibility to the creation of a librator network in analogy with oscillator network, however this can be done in a single MEMS device.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2021

Generation and propagation of topological solitons in a chain of coupled parametric-micromechanical-resonator arrays

Using a coupled parametric-resonator array for generating and propagating a topological soliton in its rotating-frame phase space is theoretically and numerically investigated. In an analogy with the well-known phi4 model, the existence of a soliton is topologically protected as the boundary of two different phase domains of parametric oscillation. Numerical simulation indicates that the propagation can be triggered by switching of the phase state of one specific resonator, and the effects of damping, collision, and the symmetry lifting by harmonic drive on the propagation dynamics are studied. The topological soliton can be implemented by using electromechanical resonators, which allow its propagation dynamics to be precisely electrically controlled and provide a fully controlled on-chip test bed for the study of a topological soliton.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2020

A Generic Rotating-Frame-Based Approach to Chaos Generation in Nonlinear MEMS NEMS Resonators

This work provides a low-power method for chaos generation which is generally applicable to nonlinear M/NEMS resonators. The approach taken is independent of the material, scale, design, and actuation of the device in question; it simply assumes a good quality factor and a Duffing type nonlinearity, features that are commonplace to M/NEMS resonators. The approach models the rotating-frame dynamics to analytically constrain the parameter space required for chaos generation. By leveraging these common properties of M/NEMS devices, a period-doubling route to chaos is generated using an order-of-magnitude smaller forcing than typically reported in the literature.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2019

Modal Analysis Investigation of Mechanical Kerr Frequency Combs

The aim of this work is to theoretically investigate the possibility of Kerr frequency combs in mechanical systems. In particular, whether microelectrome-chanical devices (MEMS) can be used to generate frequency combs in a manner that is analogous to the optical frequency combs generated in optical microresona-tors with Kerr-type nonlinearity. The analysis assumes a beam-like micromechani-cal structure, and starting from the Euler-Bernoulli beam equation derives the nec-essary conditions in parameter space for the comb generation. The chapter equally presents potential means for the physical implementation of mechanical Kerr combs.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2018

High-frequency stochastic switching of graphene resonators near room temperature

Stochastic switching between the two bistable states of a strongly driven mechanical resonator enables detection of weak signals based on probability distributions, in a manner that mimics biological systems. However, conventional silicon resonators at the microscale require a large amount of fluctuation power to achieve a switching rate in the order of a few Hertz. Here, we employ graphene membrane resonators of atomic thickness to achieve a stochastic switching rate of 7.8 kHz, which is 200 times faster than current state-of-the-art. The (effective) temperature of the fluctuations is approximately 400 K, which is 3000 times lower than the state-of-the-art. This shows that these membranes are potentially useful to transduce weak signals in the audible frequency domain. Furthermore, we perform numerical simulations to understand the transition dynamics of the resonator and derive simple analytical expressions to investigate the relevant scaling parameters that allow high-frequency, low-temperature stochastic switching to be achieved in mechanical resonators.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2018

Pulse-width modulated oscillations in a nonlinear resonator under two-tone driving as a means for MEMS sensor readout

A MEMS Duffing resonator is driven by two adjacent frequency tones into the nonlinear regime. We show that if the two-tone drive is applied at a frequency where a bistable response of the nonlinear oscillator exists, then the system output will be modulated by a relaxation cycle caused by periodically jumping between the two solution-branches of the bistable response. Although the jumps are caused by the beating of the drives, the existence and period of this relaxation or hysteresis cycle is not solely dictated by the beat frequency between the two driving tones, but also by their amplitude and detuning with respect to the device resonance frequency. We equally demonstrate how the period of the cycles can be tuned via added tension in the device and how these oscillations can be used as a means of sensitive pulse-width modulated (PWM) readout of MEMS sensors.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2018

Very large scale characterization of graphene mechanical devices using a colorimetry technique

We use a scalable optical technique to characterize more than 21000 circular nanomechanical devices made out of suspended single- and double-layer graphene on cavities with different diameters ($D$) and depths ($g$). To maximize the contrast between suspended and broken membranes we used a model for selecting the optimal color filter. The method enables parallel and automatized image processing for yield statistics. We find the survival probability to be correlated to a structural mechanics scaling parameter given by $D^4/g^3$. Moreover, we extract a median adhesion energy of $Γ=$ 0.9 J/m$^2$ between the membrane and the native SiO$_2$ at the bottom of the cavities.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2018

Graphene mechanical pixels for Interferometric MOdulator Displays (GIMOD)

Graphene, the carbon monolayer and 2D allotrope of graphite, has the potential to impact technology with a wide range of applications such as optical modulators for high-speed communications. In contrast to modulation devices that rely on plasmonic or electronic effects, MEMS-based modulators can have wider tuning ranges albeit at a lower operating frequency. These properties make electro-optic mechanical modulators ideal for reflective-type display technologies as has been demonstrated previously with SiN membranes in Interferometric MOdulator Displays (IMODs). Despite their low-power consumption and performance in bright environments, IMODs suffer from low frame rates and limited color gamut. Double-layer graphene (DLG) membranes grown by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) can also recreate the interference effect like in IMODs as proven with drumheads displaying Newton's rings. Here, we report on the electro-optical response of CVD DLG mechanical pixels by measuring the change in wavelength-dependent reflectance of a suspended graphene drumhead as a function of electrical gating. We use a spectrometer to measure the wavelength spectrum at different voltages, and find a good agreement with a model based on light interference. Moreover, to verify that gas compression effects do not play an important role, we use a stroboscopic illumination technique to study the electro-optic response of these graphene pixels at frequencies up to 400 Hz. Based on these findings, we demonstrate a continuous full-spectrum reflective-type pixel technology with a Graphene Interferometric MOdulator Display (GIMOD) prototype of 2500 pixels per inch (ppi) equivalent to more than 12K resolution.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2017

Graphene multi-mode parametric oscillators

In the field of nanomechanics, parametric excitations are of interest since they can greatly enhance sensing capabilities and eliminate cross-talk. However, parametric excitations often rely on externally tuned springs, which limits their application to high quality factor resonators and usually does not allow excitation of multiple higher modes into parametric resonance. Here we demonstrate parametric amplification and resonance of suspended single-layer graphene membranes by an efficient opto-thermal drive that modulates the intrinsic spring constant. With a large amplitude of the optical drive, a record number of 14 mechanical modes can be brought into parametric resonance by modulating a single parameter: the pretension. In contrast to conventional mechanical resonators, it is shown that graphene membranes demonstrate an interesting combination of both strong nonlinear stiffness and nonlinear damping.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2017

Optomechanics for thermal characterization of suspended graphene

Thermal properties of suspended single-layer graphene membranes are investigated by characterization of their mechanical motion in response to a high-frequency modulated laser. A characteristic delay time $τ$ between the optical intensity and mechanical motion is observed, which is attributed to the time required to raise the temperature of the membrane. We find, however, that the measured time constants are significantly larger than the predicted ones based on values of the specific heat and thermal conductivity. In order to explain the discrepancy between measured and modeled tau, a model is proposed that takes a thermal boundary resistance at the edge of the graphene drum into account. The measurements provide a noninvasive way to characterize thermal properties of suspended atomically thin membranes, providing information that can be hard to obtain by other means.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2016

Colorimetry technique for scalable characterization of suspended graphene

Previous statistical studies on the mechanical properties of chemical-vapor-deposited (CVD) suspended graphene membranes have been performed by means of measuring individual devices or with techniques that affect the material. Here, we present a colorimetry technique as a parallel, non-invasive, and affordable way of characterizing suspended graphene devices. We exploit Newton rings interference patterns to study the deformation of a double-layer graphene drum 13.2 micrometer in diameter when a pressure step is applied. By studying the time evolution of the deformation, we find that filling the drum cavity with air is 2-5 times slower than when it is purged.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗