Parity-Time symmetric system based on the thermoacoustic effect
Résumé
This paper deals with the experimental study of an acoustic Parity-Time (PT) symmetric system based on the thermoacoustic amplification process. Such a system is presented and consists of two acoustic units connected through side branches to a waveguide. One unit contains a thermoacoustic core that provides an acoustic gain which balances the thermal and viscous losses taking place in the second unit. Two control parameters are set to adjust the impedance of the two units and thereby achieve the PT-symmetry condition. The results show that a good balance between gain and loss is achieved within a frequency range from 45 Hz to 60 Hz. The spontaneous PT-symmetry breaking and the existence of exceptional points, which are characteristic of the behavior of PT-symmetric systems, are explored in this frequency range. Moreover, the distance between the two units is shown to be a control parameter to slightly shift the frequency at which the exceptional points occur.