The two-stage dynamics in the Fermi-Pasta-Ulam problem: from regular to diffusive behavior

A numerical and analytical study of the relaxation to equilibrium of both the Fermi-Pasta-Ulam (FPU) α-model and the integrable Toda model, when the fundamental mode is initially excited, is reported. We show that the dynamics of both systems is almost identical on the short term, when the energies of the initially unexcited modes grow in geometric progression with time, through a secular avalanche process. At the end of this first stage of the dynamics, the time-averaged modal energy spectrum of the Toda system stabilizes to its final profile, well described, at low energy, by the spectrum of a q-breather. The Toda equilibrium state is clearly shown to describe well the long-living quasi-state of the FPU system. On the long term, the modal energy spectrum of the FPU system slowly detaches from the Toda one by a diffusive-like rising of the tail modes, and eventually reaches the equilibrium flat shape. We find a simple law describing the growth of tail modes, which enables us to estimate the time-scale to equipartition of the FPU system, even when, at small energies, it becomes unobservable.     

Time-Scales to Equipartition in the Fermi–Pasta–Ulam Problem: Finite-Size Effects and Thermodynamic Limit

We investigate numerically the common α+β and the pure β FPU models, as well as some higher order generalizations. We consider initial conditions in which only low-frequency normal modes are excited, and perform a very accurate systematic study of the equilibrium time as a function of the number N of particles, the specific energy ε, and the parameters α and β. While at any fixed N the equilibrium time is found to be a stretched exponential in 1/ε, in the thermodynamic limit, i.e. for N→∞ at fixed ε, we observe a crossover to a power law. Concerning the (usually disregarded) dependence of T _eq on α and β, we find it is nontrivial, and propose and test a general law. A central role is played by the comparison of the FPU models with the Toda model.     

Wavepacket of the Universe and its Spreading

Wavepackets in quantum mechanics spread and the Universe in cosmology expands. We discuss a formalism where the two effects can be unified. The basic assumption is that the Universe is determined by a unitarily evolving wavepacket defined on space-time. Space-time is static but the Universe is dynamic. Spreading analogous to expansion known from observational cosmology is obtained if one regards time evolution as a dynamical process determined by a variational principle employing Kolmogorov-Nagumo-Rényi averages. The formalism automatically leads to two types of “time” parameters: τ, with dimension of x⁰, and dimensionless ε = ln??_τ, related to the form of diffeomorphism that defines the dynamics. There is no preferred time foliation, but effectively the dynamics leads to asymptotic concentration of the Universe on spacelike surfaces which propagate in space-time. The analysis is performed explicitly in 1 + 1 dimensions, but the unitary evolution operator is brought to a form that makes generalizations to other dimensions and other fields quite natural.     

Exact solutions of semiclassical non-characteristic Cauchy problems for the sine-Gordon equation

The use of the sine-Gordon equation as a model of magnetic flux propagation in Josephson junctions motivates studying the initial-value problem for this equation in the semiclassical limit in which the dispersion parameter ε tends to zero. Assuming natural initial data having the profile of a moving −2π kink at time zero, we analytically calculate the scattering data of this completely integrable Cauchy problem for all ε>0 sufficiently small, and further we invert the scattering transform to calculate the solution for a sequence of arbitrarily small ε. This sequence of exact solutions is analogous to that of the well-known N-soliton (or higher-order soliton) solutions of the focusing nonlinear Schrödinger equation. We then use plots obtained from a careful numerical implementation of the inverse-scattering algorithm for reflectionless potentials to study the asymptotic behavior of solutions in the semiclassical limit. In the limit ε↓0 one observes the appearance of nonlinear caustics, i.e. curves in space-time that are independent of ε but vary with the initial data and that separate regions in which the solution is expected to have different numbers of nonlinear phases.In the appendices, we give a self-contained account of the Cauchy problem from the perspectives of both inverse scattering and classical analysis (Picard iteration). Specifically, Appendix A contains a complete formulation of the inverse-scattering method for generic L¹-Sobolev initial data, and Appendix B establishes the well-posedness for L^p-Sobolev initial data (which in particular completely justifies the inverse-scattering analysis in Appendix A).     

The Fermi–Pasta–Ulam Problem and Its Underlying Integrable Dynamics: An Approach Through Lyapunov Exponents

FPU models, in dimension one, are perturbations either of the linear model or of the Toda model; perturbations of the linear model include the usual \(\beta \)-model, perturbations of Toda include the usual \(\alpha +\beta \) model. In this paper we explore and compare two families, or hierarchies, of FPU models, closer and closer to either the linear or the Toda model, by computing numerically, for each model, the maximal Lyapunov exponent \(\chi \). More precisely, we consider statistically typical trajectories and study the asymptotics of \(\chi \) for large N (the number of particles) and small \(\varepsilon \) (the specific energy E / N), and find, for all models, asymptotic power laws \(\chi \simeq C\varepsilon ^a\), C and a depending on the model. The asymptotics turns out to be, in general, rather slow, and producing accurate results requires a great computational effort. We also revisit and extend the analytic computation of \(\chi \) introduced by Casetti, Livi and Pettini, originally formulated for the \(\beta \)-model. With great evidence the theory extends successfully to all models of the linear hierarchy, but not to models close to Toda.     

装载于外势场中的玻色-爱因斯坦凝聚N-孤子间的相互作用

首先建立起玻色-爱因斯坦凝聚孤子链的微扰复数Toda链理论,然后深入研究玻色-爱因斯坦凝聚N-孤子间的绝热相互作用,分别通过对二次外势场、周期性外势场和二者叠加的复合外势场所引起的三类微扰,利用微扰的复数Toda链理论给出了解析处理, 并和基于分步傅里叶变换的直接数值方法进行比较,发现微扰的复数Toda链方程能够充分揭示上述三类外势场中的N-孤子链的动力学行为和特征.同时还给出了从孤子链中提取一个或多个局域态的倾斜势场或周期性势场的强度临界值,这可为玻色-爱因斯坦凝聚的实验研究 关键词： 玻色-爱因斯坦凝聚 Gross-Pitaevskii方程 物质波孤子 相互作用     

WDVV equation and triple-product relation

We study the relation between the WDVV equations and the τ-function of the noncommutative KP (NCKP) hierarchy. WDVV-like equations (Hirota triple-product relation) in the noncommutative context appear as a consequence of the nontrivial equation for τ-function of the NC KP hierarchy, while the prepotential in the Seiberg–Witten (SW) theory has been identified to the τ-function of the Whitham hierarchy. We show that the spectral curve for the SW theory is the same as the Toda-chain hierarchy. We also show explicitly that Whitham hierarchy includes commutative Toda/KP hierarchy. Further, we comment on the origin of the Hirota triple-product relation in the context of the SW theory.     

The approach to equilibrium in a pure superconductor the relaxation of the Cooper pair density

Electron-phonon and electron-electron collisions are the processes which determine the relaxation timeτ _R of the Cooper pair density. The case is considered for which the deviation of the pair density from equilibrium is small and where the equilibrium state is homogeneous. Starting from the Eliashberg equation, one is able to reduce the problem to a quadrature once the equilibrium Green functions are known. If the deviation is constant in space, andT/T _c?0.5, we find \(\tau _R \approx \sqrt {T_c /(T_c - T)} \tau _c\) , whereτ _c is the collision time (≈10^?8 sec). For a deviation modulated in space,τ _R very quickly reaches the limiting valueτ _c.     

Dynamical energy equipartition of the Toda model with additional on-site potentials

We study the dynamical energy equipartition properties in the integrable Toda model with additional uniform or disordered on-site energies by extensive numerical simulations. The total energy is initially equidistributed among some of the lowest frequency linear modes. For the Toda model with uniform on-site potentials, the energy spectrum keeps its profile nearly unchanged in a relatively short time scale. On a much longer time scale, the energies of tail modes increase slowly with time. Energy equipartition is far away from being attached in our studied time scale. For the Toda model with disordered on-site potentials, the energy transfers continuously to the high frequency modes and eventually towards energy equipartition. We further perform a systematic study of the equipartition time teq depending on the energy density εand the nonlinear parameter α in the thermodynamic limit for the Toda model with disordered on-site potentials. We find teq∝(1/ε)~a(1/α)~b, where b ≈ 2 a. The values of a and b are increased when increasing the strengths of disordered on-site potentials or decreasing the number of initially excited modes.     

Thermal Conductivity of the Toda Lattice with Conservative Noise

We study the thermal conductivity of the one dimensional Toda lattice perturbed by a stochastic dynamics preserving energy and momentum. The strength of the stochastic noise is controlled by a parameter γ. We show that heat transport is anomalous, and that the thermal conductivity diverges with the length n of the chain according to κ(n)∼n ^α , with 0<α≤1/2. In particular, the ballistic heat conduction of the unperturbed Toda chain is destroyed. Besides, the exponent α of the divergence depends on γ.     

Thermalization in Harmonic Particle Chains with Velocity Flips

We propose a new mathematical tool for the study of transport properties of models for lattice vibrations in crystalline solids. By replication of dynamical degrees of freedom, we aim at a new dynamical system where the “local” dynamics can be isolated and solved independently from the “global” evolution. The replication procedure is very generic but not unique as it depends on how the original dynamics are split between the local and global dynamics. As an explicit example, we apply the scheme to study thermalization of the pinned harmonic chain with velocity flips. We improve on the previous results about this system by showing that after a relatively short time period the average kinetic temperature profile satisfies the dynamic Fourier’s law in a local microscopic sense without assuming that the initial data is close to a local equilibrium state. The bounds derived here prove that the above thermalization period is at most of the order $L^{2/3}$ , where $L$ denotes the number of particles in the chain. In particular, even before the diffusive time scale Fourier’s law becomes a valid approximation of the evolution of the kinetic temperature profile. As a second application of the dynamic replica method, we also briefly consider replacing the velocity flips by an anharmonic onsite potential.     

Detection of collective motions in dielectric spectra and the meaning of the generalized Vogel-Fulcher-Tamman equation

Based on the reduction property of dielectric spectra associated with the power-law function [∼(jωτ)^±ν] that appears in the frequency domain, one can develop an effective procedure for detection of different reduced motions (described by the corresponding power-law exponents) in temperature domain. If the power-law exponent ν is related to characteristic relaxation time τ by the relationship ν=ν₀ ln(τ/τ_s)/ln(τ/τ₀) (here τ_s, τ₀ are the characteristic times characterizing a movement over fractal cluster that is defined in Ref. [Ya.E. Ryabov, Yu. Feldman, J. Chem. Phys. 116 (2002) 8610]) and the simple temperature dependence of τ(T)=τ_A exp(E/T) obeys the traditional Arrhenius relationship, then one can prove that any extreme point figuring in the complex permittivity ε(jω) spectra (characterized by the values [ω_m, y(ω_m)]) obeys the generalized Vogel-Fulcher-Tamman (VFT) equation. This important statement confirms the existence of the ‘universal’ response (UR) (discovered and classified by Jonscher in frequency domain) and opens new possibilities in the detection of the ‘hidden’ collective motions in temperature region for self-similar (heterogeneous) systems. It gives also the extended interpretation of the VFT equation and allows one to differentiate collective motions passing through an extreme point. This differentiation, in turn, allows one to select the proper fitting function containing one or two (at least) relaxation times for the fitting of the complex permittivity function ε(jω) in the limited frequency domain. This conclusion can allow for the classification of dielectric spectroscopy as the spectroscopy of the reduced (collective) motions, which are described by different power-law exponents on the mesoscale region. The verification of this approach on available DS data (poly(ethylene glycol)-based-single-ion conductors) completely confirms the basic statements of this theory and opens new possibilities in general classification of different motions that can be detected in the analysis of the different dielectric permittivity spectra.     

Dynamical role of the degree of intraspecific cooperation: A simple model for prebiotic replicators and ecosystems

We present a simple mean field model to analyze the dynamics of competition between two populations of replicators in terms of the degree of intraspecific cooperation (i.e., autocatalysis) in one of these populations. The first population can only replicate with Malthusian kinetics while the second one can reproduce with Malthusian or autocatalytic replication or with a combination of both reproducing strategies. The model consists of two coupled, nonlinear, autonomous ordinary differential equations. We investigate analytically and numerically the phase plane dynamics and the bifurcation scenarios of this ecologically coupled system, focusing on the outcome of competition for several degrees of intraspecific cooperation, σ, in the second population of replicators. We demonstrate that the dynamics of both populations can not be governed by a limit cycle, and also that once cooperation is considered, the topology of phase space does not allow for coexistence. Even for low values of the degree of intraspecific cooperation, for large enough autocatalytic replication rates, the second population of replicators is able to outcompete the first one, having a wide basin of attraction in state space. We characterize the same power law dependence between the outcompetition extinction times, τ, and the degree of intraspecific cooperation for both populations, given by τ∼c_iσ⁻¹. Our results suggest that, under some kinetic conditions, the appearance of autocatalysis might be favorable in a population of replicators growing with Malthusian kinetics competing with another population also reproducing exponentially.     

A comparative study of non-polar solvents effect on dielectric relaxation and dipole moment of binary mixtures of mono alkyl ethers of ethylene glycol and of diethylene glycol with ethyl alcohol

Dielectric relaxation and dipole moment of binary mixtures of homologous series of mono alkyl ethers of ethylene glycol and of diethylene glycol, i.e., mono methyl, mono ethyl and mono butyl ethers of ethylene glycol (ROCH₂CH₂OH) and mono methyl, mono ethyl and mono butyl ethers of diethylene glycol (ROCH₂CH₂OCH₂CH₂OH) with ethyl alcohol (C₂H₅OH) of different concentrations were studied in dilute solutions of benzene, dioxane and carbon tetrachloride at 35 °C. Permittivity (ε′) and loss (ε″) at 10.1 GHz, static dielectric constant ε_o at 1 MHz and high frequency limiting dielectric constant ε_∞ = n_D² at optical frequency of these molecules and their binary mixtures at different concentration were measured in dilute solutions of non-polar solvents. The average relaxation time τ_o, relaxation times corresponding to overall molecular reorientation τ₁ and group rotations τ₂ were determined using Higasi's single frequency measurement equations for dilute solutions. The evaluated values of relaxation times and free energy of activation ΔF were used to explore the solvent effect on molecular dynamics of these polar binary systems in non-polar solvents. The excess inverse relaxation time and excess free energy of activation were determined to confirm the existence of hydrogen-bonded heterogeneous cooperative domains of the ethers and alcohol molecules at different concentration their binary mixtures in non-polar solvents. The dipole moment of the binary mixtures was evaluated using Higasi's and Guggenheim's equation for dilute solutions. The evaluated values of dipole moments and computed dipole moment values using a simple mixing equation of the polar molecules binary mixture were used to explore the effect of non-polar solvent environment on heterogeneous molecular interactions between ethers and alcohol molecules. The effect of number of carbon atoms in the molecular structure of these homologous series molecules was also considered for the interpretation of various evaluated dielectric parameters.     

A continuous model of human dynamics

Ideas and tools from statistical physics have recently been applied to the investigation of human dynamics. The timing of human activities, in particular, has been studied both experimentally and analytically. Empirical data show that, in many different situations, the time interval separating two consecutive tasks executed by an individual follows a heavy-tailed probability distribution rather than Poisson statistics. To account for this data, human behaviour has been viewed as a decision-based queuing system where individuals select and execute tasks belonging to a finite list of items as an increasing function of a task priority parameter. It is then possible to obtain analytically the empirical result P(τ)∼1/τ, where P(τ) is the waiting time probability distribution.Here a continuous model of human dynamics is introduced using instead an infinite queuing list. In contrast with the results obtained by other models in the finite case we find a waiting time distribution explicitly depending on the priority distribution density function ρ. The power-law scaling P(τ)∼1/τ is then recovered when ρ is exponentially distributed.     

The Crossover Regime for the Weakly Asymmetric Simple Exclusion Process

We consider the asymmetric simple exclusion process in one dimension with weak asymmetry (WASEP) and 0–1 step initial condition. Our interest are the fluctuations of the time-integrated particle current at some prescribed spatial location. One expects a crossover from Gaussian to Tracy-Widom distributed fluctuations. The appropriate crossover scale is an asymmetry of order \(\sqrt{\varepsilon}\), times of order ε ^?2, and a spatial location of order ε ^?3/2. For this parameter window we obtain the limiting distribution function of the integrated current in terms of an integral over the difference of two Fredholm determinants. For large times, on the scale ε ^?2, this distribution function converges to the one of Tracy-Widom.     

Full Fermi–Pasta–Ulam Recurrence Interaction with Fluctuations of the Medium

It is shown in a numerical study that the simultaneous influence of discrete and continuous random processes on the full Fermi–Pasta–Ulam (FPU) recurrence dynamics in two parametrically coupled identical chains of vibrators with open ends and under different initial conditions leads to stabilization of the FPU spectrum. A greater influence on chains of gaussian noise as compared to discrete noise is revealed. An increase in the amplitudes of both noises by one order of magnitude results in considerable parameter changes in their FPU spectrum. The full FPU recurrence interaction in coupled chains with discrete and continuous random noise of the medium manifests itself in extremely low-frequency periodic processes in stochastic dynamics of the medium (with frequency two orders of magnitude lower than the lowest frequency in the initial conditions of the chains).     

Modulational instability in isolated and driven Fermi–Pasta–Ulam lattices

We present a detailed analysis of the modulational instability of the zone-boundary mode for one and higher-dimensional Fermi–Pasta–Ulam (FPU) lattices. The growth of the instability is followed by a process of relaxation to equipartition, which we have called the Anti-FPU problem because the energy is initially fed into the highest frequency part of the spectrum, while in the original FPU problem low frequency excitations of the lattice were considered. This relaxation process leads to the formation of chaotic breathers in both one and two space dimensions. The system then relaxes to energy equipartition, on time scales that increase as the energy density is decreased. We supplement this study by considering the nonconservative case, where the FPU lattice is homogeneously driven at high frequencies. Standing and travelling nonlinear waves and solitonic patterns are detected in this case. Finally we investigate the dynamics of the FPU chain when one end is driven at a frequency located above the zone boundary. We show that this excitation stimulates nonlinear bandgap transmission effects.     

Dielectric response of KCN crystal at ultra low frequencies

The dielectric response of pure KCN crystals (ε′, ε″ and tg σ) has been measured as a function of temperature in the frequency range 10⁻² Hz to 10⁴ Hz. In the antiferroelectric phase the width of the loss peak are found practically independent of temperature (1.4 decades) and close to a Debye behavior; the relaxation time of the CN⁻ dipoles is characterized by an Arrhenius behavior τ = τ₀ exp (U/KT) with τ₀ = 7.26 × 10⁻¹⁵s and U = 0, 147 eV confirming a classical temperature activated reorientation of the dipoles.