Cascade of Modal Interactions in Nanomechanical Resonators with Soft Clamping

Journal Article (2026)
Author(s)

Zichao Li (TU Delft - Mechanical Engineering)

Minxing Xu (TU Delft - Applied Sciences, Kavli institute of nanoscience Delft)

Richard A. Norte (TU Delft - Mechanical Engineering, Kavli institute of nanoscience Delft)

Alejandro M. Aragón (TU Delft - Mechanical Engineering)

Peter G. Steeneken (TU Delft - Mechanical Engineering, Kavli institute of nanoscience Delft)

Farbod Alijani (TU Delft - Mechanical Engineering)

Research Group
Dynamics of Micro and Nano Systems
DOI related publication
https://doi.org/10.1103/73wb-22pz Final published version
More Info
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Publication Year
2026
Language
English
Research Group
Dynamics of Micro and Nano Systems
Journal title
Physical review letters
Issue number
9
Volume number
136
Article number
097202
Downloads counter
52
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Abstract

We uncover a chain of nonlinear modal interactions in softly clamped nanostring resonators. The process involves the sequential coupling of five mechanical modes, during frequency sweeps, yielding a broad nonlinear response with nearly constant amplitude. We demonstrate that soft clamping enables this cascaded energy transfer and amplifies the effective geometric nonlinearity of the driven mode by an order of magnitude. Analytical and finite element-based reduced-order models capture the key features of the coupling cascade and clarify its underlying mechanism. The phenomenon is generic in nonlinear vibrational systems and can be tailored through soft-clamping design strategies.