Acoustic pressure induced period-doubling bifurcations in tympanic membrane oscillations

We demonstrate the possibility of using a quantum-confined semiconductor structure laser operating in the autodyne regime for the investigation of the amplitude-frequency characteristics of the tympanic membrane (TM). Using such a laser, it is established that an increase in the acoustic pressure leads to the appearance of subharmonics in the spectrum of TM oscillations at frequencies equal to one-half and one-quarter of the exciting signal frequency, which is evidence for period-doubling bufurcations.