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Self-organized escape of oscillator chains in nonlinear potentials
D Hennig1, S Fugmann, L Schimansky-Geier
1Institut für Physik, Humboldt-Universität Berlin, Newtonstrasse 15, D-12489 Berlin, Germany.
Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics
|November 13, 2007
Summary
This study reveals how nonlinear chains deterministically escape metastable states without noise. Collective nonlinear escape is faster than noise-assisted transitions, offering new insights into nonlinear dynamics.
Area of Science:
- Nonlinear dynamics
- Statistical physics
- Condensed matter physics
Background:
- Metastable states are common in physical systems.
- Deterministic dynamics can exhibit complex behaviors.
- Understanding barrier crossing is crucial in many fields.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate noise-free escape mechanisms in nonlinear systems.
- To analyze the role of nonlinearity and harmonic interactions in barrier crossing.
- To compare deterministic escape with noise-assisted transitions.
Main Methods:
- Simulating a chain of linearly interacting units.
- Analyzing energy redistribution and localization.
- Investigating the formation of critical nuclei.
Main Results:
- A uniform lattice state becomes unstable due to nonlinearity.
- Energy localization leads to the formation of a critical nucleus.
- Deterministic barrier crossing occurs via self-organization.
- Noise-free escape is faster than noise-assisted escape at low energy ratios.
Conclusions:
- Nonlinear interactions drive self-organized escape from metastable states.
- Deterministic phenomena can outperform stochastic processes in certain regimes.
- The findings have implications for understanding phase transitions and pattern formation.
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