Dynamics of short one-dimensional nonlinear thermostated atomic chains

TL;DR

This paper investigates the dynamic behavior of short one-dimensional nonlinear atomic chains interacting with thermostats, identifying a boundary temperature that separates regular and chaotic motion, with implications for understanding stochasticity in such systems.

Contribution

It provides a numerical analysis of the boundary temperature distinguishing regular and chaotic dynamics in short 1D nonlinear thermostated chains, highlighting the coexistence of stochastic and regular behavior.

Findings

Boundary temperature $T_b$ separates regular and chaotic motion.

Dynamics can be stochastic or regular despite fluctuations.

Boundary temperature close to that of Hamiltonian systems.

Abstract

The dynamics of short 1D nonlinear Hamiltonian chains is analyzed numerically at different temperatures (energy per particle). The boundary temperature $T_b$ separating the regular (quasiperiodic) and the stochastic (chaotic) chain motion is found. The dynamical properties of short 1D nonlinear chains interacting with thermostats are studied. It is shown that, in spite of the fluctuations, the dynamics of such systems can be stochastic as well as regular. The boundary temperature of these systems is close to that of the Hamiltonian one.