An Exactly Solvable Model for Nonlinear Resonant Scattering

Abstract

This work analyzes the effects of cubic nonlinearities on certain resonant scattering anomalies associated with the dissolution of an embedded eigenvalue of a linear scattering system. These sharp peak-dip anomalies in the frequency domain are often called Fano resonances. We study a simple model that incorporates the essential features of this kind of resonance. It features a linear scatterer attached to a transmission line with a point-mass defect and coupled to a nonlinear oscillator. We prove two power laws in the small coupling <gamma> \to 0 and small nonlinearity <mu> \to 0 regime. The asymptotic relation <mu> ~ C<gamma>^4 characterizes the emergence of a small frequency interval of triple harmonic solutions near the resonant frequency of the oscillator. As the nonlinearity grows or the coupling diminishes, this interval widens and, at the relation <mu> ~ C<gamma>^2, merges with another evolving frequency interval of triple harmonic solutions that extends to infinity. Our model allows rigorous computation of stability in the small <mu> and <gamma> limit. In the regime of triple harmonic solutions, those with largest and smallest response of the oscillator are linearly stable and the solution with intermediate response is unstable.