Nonreciprocal scattering of elastic waves at time interfaces induced by spatiotemporal modulation

Spatiotemporally modulated elastic metamaterials have garnered increasing interest for their potential applications in nonreciprocal wave devices. Most existing studies, however, focus on systems where spatiotemporal modulation is continuous and infinite in time. Here, we investigate the temporal dynamics of elastic waves at time interfaces created by the sudden activation or deactivation of spatiotemporal modulation in a medium's elastic properties. By developing an ad hoc mode-coupling theory, we reveal that such time interfaces enable controlled frequency and wavenumber conversion through mode redistribution and energy pumping. Specifically, we quantitatively evaluate the temporal scattering behavior of elastic longitudinal waves under two representative spatiotemporal modulations: subsonic and supersonic. These modulations give rise to frequency and wavenumber bandgaps, respectively. We demonstrate that subsonic modulation induces nonreciprocal energy reversal, while supersonic modulation leads to nonreciprocal energy amplification. Furthermore, a symmetry-based analysis reveals an energy–momentum conservation law that governs the temporal scattering process. Our findings pave the way for the development of temporal elastic metamaterials with practical applications in designing one-way elastic filters, amplifiers, and frequency converters.