Physics Today (March 1996)

Each panel in this mosaic represents the time evolution (vertical axis) of a coupled 512-element array (horizontal axis). Each bistable element can be in either the "red" or "blue" state, and is subjected to a weak periodic signal buried in white noise. Using the phenomenon of stochastic resonance, the array can be tuned to oscillate regularly between states, as in the second row, third panel. Turn to the article on page 39 for more on this exciting new topic. (Courtesy of John Lindner, The College of Wooster, and William Ditto and Brian Meadows, Georgia Institute of Technology.)

John Lindner