High-order synchronization of stick–slip process: experiments on spring–slider system

In the last years it has been shown that the synchronization and triggering of dynamic events by weak external forcing is ubiquitous and is observed in biological systems, lasers, electronic networks, etc. In the present paper, new experimental data on the phase synchronization in frictional system induced by a weak electromagnetic or mechanical periodic forcing are analyzed. For quantitative analysis of stick–slip time series, modern tools of nonlinear dynamics were used. Stick–slip events were identified by recording acoustic emissions, which accompany slip displacements. The spring–slider system in stick–slip regime is considered as a proxy of active tectonic fault, generating earthquakes. The effect of high-order synchronization of stick–slip events by weak electromagnetic or mechanical periodic forcing, as well as the phenomenon of phase time delay of the synchronized slip events behind the forcing phase, was discovered. These findings can help to find new regularities in seismic time series.