Local to extended transitions of resonant defect modes

We study the localized modes created by introducing a resonant defect in a mechanical lattice. We find that modes introduced by resonant defects have profiles that can be tuned from being extremely localized to totally delocalized by an external force. This is in direct contrast with modes introduced by traditional mass or stiffness defects, in which the modes' profiles stay constant. We present an analytical model for resonant defects in one-dimensional nonlinear lattices, computationally demonstrate the equivalent effect in a two-dimensional lattice, and experimentally observe the mode profiles in a granular crystal. While our study is concerned with nonlinear mechanical lattices, the generality of our model suggests that the same effect should be present in other types of periodic lattices.