Active Lattices

What’s This About?

Traditional lattice structures are passive, constrained by time-invariant and reciprocal elastic elements, which fundamentally limit wave dynamics and energy transport. Recent advancements in active lattice systems have introduced non-Hermitian phenomena, nonreciprocal wave behavior, and time-modulated dynamics, offering unprecedented control over wave propagation in mechanical systems.

Why Does It Matter?

By incorporating time modulation and nonreciprocal effects into lattice structures, we unlock new possibilities for advanced wave control and material functionality:

• Wave Control Beyond Reciprocity – Designing materials that direct waves preferentially, essential for high-performance signal processing and vibration isolation.
• Energy Localization & Transport – Utilizing non-Hermitian effects to focus, redirect, and confine energy, enabling more efficient wave manipulation in elastic systems.
• Adaptive & Tunable Metamaterials – Creating mechanical lattices with real-time tunability, paving the way for smart materials in aerospace, robotics, and structural engineering.
• Exploring Time-Modulated Physics – Investigating phononic time crystals to understand dynamical phase transitions and time-induced band structures in mechanical media.

By moving beyond passive materials, we aim to develop next-generation mechanical lattices that exhibit adaptive, nonreciprocal, and time-dependent wave dynamics, opening new frontiers in energy control and structural engineering.

What We’re Working on Right Now

Our research focuses on experimental and theoretical investigations of these novel lattice architectures. Current projects include:

✔️ Non-Hermitian Lattices with Engineered Stiffness & Damping – Exploring asymmetric elasticity and energy dissipation to realize novel wave phenomena in mechanical systems.
✔️ Wave Manipulation via Time-Dependent Elasticity – Investigating the stability, localization, and control of elastic waves in dynamically modulated lattices, with experimental validation.

Want to Join Us?

We are looking for a motivated graduate student to contribute to this cutting-edge research. This opportunity offers hands-on experience in:

🚀 Theory & Simulations – Studying wave propagation in non-Hermitian and time-modulated lattices.
🛠 Experimental Techniques – Designing and testing mechanical lattices with active components, with exposure to mechatronics and dynamic wave control.

If you’re excited about shaping the future of wave control through intelligent structures, let’s explore how you can be part of this work!

Recent Publications

• Coming soon