Effects of finite curvature on soliton dynamics in a chain of non-linear oscillators

Peter Leth Christiansen, Yuri B. Gaididei, Serge Mingaleev

    Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

    Abstract

    We consider a curved chain of non-linear oscillators and show that the interplay of curvature and non-linearity leads to a number of qualitative effects. In particular, the energy of non-linear localized excitations centred on the bending decreases when curvature increases, i.e. bending manifests itself as a trap for excitations. Moreover, the potential of this trap is a double-well one, thus leading to a symmetry-breaking phenomenon: a symmetric stationary state may become unstable and transform into an energetically favourable asymmetric stationary state. The essentials of symmetry breaking are examined analytically for a simplified model. We also demonstrate a threshold character of the scattering process, i.e. transmission, trapping, or reflection of the moving nonlinear excitation passing through the bending.
    Original languageEnglish
    JournalJournal of Physics Condensed Matter
    Volume13
    Issue number6
    Pages (from-to)1181-1192
    ISSN0953-8984
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2001

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