Signal amplification by sensitive control of bifurcation topology

We describe a novel amplification scheme based on inducing dynamical changes to the topology of a bifurcation diagram of a simple nonlinear dynamical system. We have implemented a first bifurcation-topology amplifier using a coupled pair of parametrically driven high-frequency nanoelectromechanical systems resonators, demonstrating robust small-signal amplification. The principles that underlie bifurcation-topology amplification are simple and generic, suggesting its applicability to a wide variety of physical, chemical, and biological systems.