Vibrational antiresonance in nonlinear coupled systems.

Abstract

We examine the response of a system of coupled nonlinear oscillators driven by a rapidly varying field, to a low frequency weak periodic excitation of one of the oscillators. The response amplitude of the weak field-driven oscillator at an optimal strength of the rapidly varying field exhibits a strong suppression accompanied by a large negative shift in its oscillation phase. The minimum can be identified as vibrational antiresonance in between the two maxima corresponding to vibrational resonance. This vibrational antiresonance can be observed only in nonlinear coupled systems and not in linearly coupled systems or in a single nonlinear oscillator, under similar physical condition. We discuss the underlying dynamical mechanism, the role of nonlinearity and high frequency in characterizing this counter-resonance effect. Our theoretical analysis is corroborated by detailed numerical simulations.