Kink-Antikink Collisions in the Periodic $\varphi^{4}$ Model

TL;DR

This paper compares the collision behaviors of kinks and antikinks in the periodic and standard $\

Contribution

It introduces a periodic $\\varphi^4$ model and compares its collision dynamics with the standard model, revealing differences in critical velocities and fractal structures.

Findings

Different critical velocities for the two models

Distinct outcomes in kink-antikink collisions

Varied fractal scattering structures

Abstract

We borrow the form of potential of the well-known kink-bearing $\varphi^4$ system in the range between its two vacua and paste it repeatedly into the other ranges to introduce the periodic $\varphi^4$ system. The paper is devoted to providing a comparative numerical study of the properties of the two systems. Although the two systems are quite similar for a kink (antikink) solution, they usually exhibit different behaviors throughout collisions. For instance, they have different critical velocities, different results during collisions, and a different rule in their quasi-fractal structures. Their quasi-fractal structures will be studied in the disturbed kink-antikink collisions as well. Hence, three types of scattering windows will be introduced with respect to the incoming speed, the amplitude, and initial phase of the internal mode, respectively. Moreover, a detailed comparative study of the collisions between two kinks and one antikink will be done at the end.