Synchronization of nanowire self-oscillators

We performed field emission measurements with SiC nanowires self-oscillators. Applying an additional AC excitation locks the self-oscillation natural frequency of the nanowire to the external frequency as long as both frequencies do not deviate from each other by more than 10 %. An unusual behavior of the phase of the locked self-oscillator is observed showing for instance spontaneous phase modulated signal generation at the nanoscale.