Self-sustained oscillations with delayed velocity feedback

Abstract

We study a model for a nonlinear mechanical oscillator, relevant to the dynamics of micro- and nanomechanical time-keeping devices, where periodic motion is sustained by a feedback force proportional to the oscillation velocity. Specifically, we focus our attention on the effect of a time delay in the feedback loop, assumed to originate in the electric circuit that creates and injects the self-sustaining force. Stationary oscillating solutions to the equation of motion, whose stability is insured by the crucial role of nonlinearity, are analytically obtained through suitable approximations. We show that a delay within the order of the oscillation period can suppress self-sustained oscillations. Numerical solutions are used to validate the analytical approximations.