Experimental observation of soliton propagation and annihilation in a hydromechanical array of one-way coupled oscillators.
We have experimentally realized unidirectional or one-way coupling in a mechanical array by powering the coupling with flowing water. In cyclic arrays with an even number of elements, solitonlike waves spontaneously form but eventually annihilate in pairs, leaving a spatially alternating static attractor. In cyclic arrays with an odd number of elements, this alternating attractor is topologically impossible, and a single soliton always remains to propagate indefinitely. Our experiments with 14- and 15-element arrays highlight the dynamical importance of both noise and disorder and are further elucidated by our computer simulations.
Lindner
John F
JF
Physics Department, The College of Wooster, Wooster, Ohio 44691, USA.
Patton
Kelly M
KM
Odenthal
Patrick M
PM
Gallagher
James C
JC
Breen
Barbara J
BJ