title: Experimental observation of soliton propagation and annihilation in a hydromechanical array of one-way coupled oscillators.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Physics Department, The College of Wooster, Wooster, Ohio 44691, USA.
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Lindner
authors.forename: Kelly M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Patton
authors.forename: Patrick M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Odenthal
authors.forename: James C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.forename: Barbara J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Breen