Developing a network of synthetically coupled mechanical oscillators to demonstrate topological effects.

The exchange of energy between harmonic oscillators coupled in a network provides a mechanical analog for the exploration of lattice transport phenomena relevant to condensed matter physics. Using accelerometer-based position monitoring and external driving by magnetic fields, we implement a new platform of synthetic mechanical network in which oscillators can be tuned and coupled through a remote feedback-control system. We will discuss how this approach enables the control of tunneling phases and artificial gauge fields, and we will present preliminary experimental results on the implementation of this approach.