Vibrational mode analysis using maximum likelihood and maximum entropy

A simple algorithm is presented that uses the maximum likelihood and maximum entropy approaches to determine the vibrational modes of elastic bodies. This method assumes that the vibrational frequencies have been previously determined, but the modes to which they correspond are unknown. Although the method is illustrated through the analysis of simulated vibrational modes for a flat rectangular plate, it has broad applicability to any experimental technique in which spectral frequencies can be associated to specific modes by means of a mathematical model.