Dynamics and Bifurcations in Networks Designed for Frequency Conversion

Abstract

This article reviews recent progress in signal frequency up-conversion and down-conversion, both theory and experiments with network implementations. The fundamental idea is to exploit the inherent symmetry of networks to produce collective behavior in which certain oscillators tend to oscillate at different frequencies. This concept is significantly different from other techniques, e.g. master-slave systems, in the sense that the collective behavior arises naturally from the mutual interactions of the individual units, and without any external forcing. In this manuscript, we present a comprehensive review of the basic ideas, methods, and experiments of the symmetry-based phenomenon of frequency conversion. In addition, we present a review of a device implementation of a broad spectrum analyzer, which motivated the development of systematic methods to up- and down-convert frequencies of oscillations. This device is made up of large parallel arrays of analog nonlinear oscillators with the ability to receive complex signals containing multiple frequencies and instantaneously lock-on or respond to a received signal in a few oscillation cycles.