Mathematical theory on dipolar resonances of hard inclusions within a soft elastic material

Abstract

The current study is motivated by the paper [Z. Liu, et al., {\it Science}, 289(5485), 2000], which investigates the incorporation of hard inclusions within a soft elastic matrix (HISE). The objective is to attain a negative mass density, which is caused by sub-wavelength dipolar resonances. This paper offers a comprehensive and mathematically rigorous understanding of the dipolar resonances within the HISE structure. Firstly, the original formula for the resonant frequencies of arbitrarily shaped hard inclusions is derived explicitly for the first time. Additionally, we demonstrate that the resonances arise due to the high contrast in Lam\'e parameters between various materials, while the sub-wavelength characteristics of the resonances are attributed to the significant disparities in material densities. Furthermore, the dipolar characterization of the resonances is rigorously justified. To validate our findings, we investigate resonant phenomena within a spherical geometry, offering both an alternative method for calculating resonant frequencies and a confirmation of the results presented in this paper.