EAPSI: Beneficial use of random fluctuations in coupled oscillator arrays

随机波动(电磁噪声、热量等)无处不在，它们通常会产生不良影响。然而，如果正确理解这些随机波动，系统就可以被设计成以积极的方式利用噪声。许多生物系统已经利用噪音来提高性能。例如，小龙虾的感觉神经元使用噪音来定位猎物，蚂蚁利用噪音来优化觅食。工程师们可能会从这些生物系统中寻找灵感。在这个项目中，将使用分析、数值和实验方法来研究噪声对振荡器阵列的影响。这项研究将在日本京都大学的广原隆博士的指导下进行，他在非线性系统领域是国际公认的人物，在振荡器阵列和能量局部化方面的工作被广泛引用。通过之前的研究，已经开发出工具来研究振荡器阵列，特别是福克-普朗克方程的累积量方法，以及有限元方案。然而，噪声如何影响振荡器阵列中的能量局域化还没有被很好地理解。该项目将对两种振荡器阵列的实验安排进行比较，其中一种在马里兰大学，另一种在京都大学。这两个实验系统之间的一些差异包括激发方向、磁效应的性质(被动和电动)以及系统配置。通过两个不同的实验研究同样的噪音影响行为，可能会进一步“调整”参数，以新的方式利用噪音。这项研究可以开发用于建设性目的的利用噪声能量的新方法，例如通过阵列的能量传输，对不希望的能量局部化的衰减，以及用于引导通信信号。该NSF EAPSI奖是与日本科学促进会合作资助的。

Random fluctuations (electromagnetic noise, heat, etc.) are everywhere, and they usually produce undesirable effects. However, if these random fluctuations are properly understood, systems can be designed to utilize noise in a positive manner. Many biological systems already utilize noise to improve performance. For example, sensory neurons in crayfish use noise to locate their prey, and ants exploit noise to optimize foraging. Engineers may look to these biological systems for inspiration. In this project, analytical, numerical, and experimental methods will be used to study the effects of noise on an oscillator array. This research will be performed at Kyoto University in Japan under the guidance of Dr. Takashi Hikihara, who is an internationally recognized figure in the area of nonlinear systems, with a well-cited body of work on oscillator arrays and energy localization.Through previous research, tools have been developed to study oscillator arrays, notably the Method of Cumulants for the Fokker-Planck equation, as well as a finite elements scheme. However, it is not well understood how noise affects energy localizations in oscillator arrays. This project will allow comparison of two experimental arrangements of oscillator arrays, one of which is at the University of Maryland and another at Kyoto University. Some of the differences between the two experimental systems include the excitation direction, the nature of magnetic effects (passive versus electroactive), and the system configurations. By studying the same noise-influenced behavior through two different experiments, it might be possible to further "tune" parameters to exploit noise in novel ways. This research could develop novel ways for harnessing the energy of noise for constructive purposes, such as energy transportation through an array, the attenuation of undesirable energy localization, as well as for channeling communication signals. This NSF EAPSI award is funded in collaboration with the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.