Stochastic Resonance (IMAGE) Washington University in St. Louis Caption An artist's view of the stochastic resonance (SR) in an optomechanical resonator. The circular ring on the pillar resembles cross-section of a microtoroid resonator undergoing periodic mechanical oscillations (depicted as up (red) and down (blue) flapping) due to radiation pressure of light circulating within the structure. The bell-shaped curves represent the SNR as a function of noise in the system. Mechanical oscillations create a nonlinear system for the optical field and drive it into periodic and then to chaotic regime. Chaos with the help of optomechanical backaction noise enhances the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of a weak optical signal in the same resonator. Stochastic resonance occurs when the peaks in the noise coincide with the peaks of the weak signal. The SNR rises sharply to a maximum where SR occurs and then gradually decreases as the amount of noise is increased. Credit (Image: B. Peng, S. K. Ozdemir, F. Monifi, L. Yang) Usage Restrictions None License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.