Persistent Response in an Ultrastrongly Driven Mechanical Membrane Resonator

We study experimentally and theoretically the phenomenon of persistent response in ultrastrongly driven membrane resonators. The term persistent response denotes the development of a vibrating state with nearly constant amplitude over an extreme wide frequency range. We reveal the underlying mechanism by directly imaging the vibrational state using advanced optical interferometry. We argue that this state is related to the nonlinear interaction between higher-order flexural modes and higher-order overtones of the driven mode. Finally, we propose a stability diagram for the different vibrational states that the membrane can adopt.

Automated summary

The study investigates the phenomenon of persistent response in ultrastrongly driven membrane resonators both experimentally and theoretically, revealing the underlying mechanism through advanced optical interferometry. It suggests that this state is related to the nonlinear interaction between higher-order flexural modes and higher-order overtones of the driven mode, proposing a stability diagram for the different vibrational states the membrane can adopt.