This article focuses on recent investigations on equilibria of the Frenkel-Kontorova models subjected to potentials generated by quasi-crystals. We present a specific one-dimensional model with an explicit potential driven by the Fibonacci quasi-crystal. For a given positive number $θ$, we show that there are multiple equilibria with rotation number $θ$, e.g., a minimal configuration and a non-minimal equilibrium configuration. Some numerical experiments verifying the existence of such equilibria are provided.
We study a generalized Frenkel-Kontorova model. Using minimal and Birkhoff solutions as building blocks, we construct a lot of homoclinic solutions and heteroclinic solutions for this generalized Frenkel-Kontorova model under gap conditions. These new solutions are not minimal and Birkhoff any more. We use constrained minimization method to prove our results.
In this article, the Frenkel-Kontorova model for dislocation dynamics is considered, where the on-site potential consists of quadratic wells joined by small arcs, which can be spinodal (concave) as commonly assumed in physics. The existence of heteroclinic waves ---making a transition from one well of the on-site potential to another--- is proved by means of a Schauder fixed point argument. The setting developed here is general enough to treat such a Frenkel-Kontorova chain with smooth ($C^2$) on-site potential. It is shown that the method can also establish the existence of two-transition wav…
We study heteroclinic solutions of a generalized Frenkel-Kontorova model. Using the methods of Rabinowitz and Stredulinsky, we prove that if the rotation vector of the configuration is rational and if there is an adjacent pair of periodic configurations, then there is a solution that is heteroclinic in one fixed direction and periodic in other directions. Furthermore, if the above heteroclinic solutions have an adjacent pair, then there is a solution that is heteroclinic in two directions and periodic in other directions. The procedure can be repeated to produce more complex solutions. Thus we…
We consider a generalized one-dimensional chain in a periodic potential (the Frenkel-Kontorova model), with dissipative, pulsating (or ratchet) dynamics as a model of transport when the average force on the system is zero. We find lower bounds on the transport speed under mild assumptions on the asymmetry and steepness of the site potential. Physically relevant applications include explicit estimates of the pulse frequencies and mean spacings for which the transport is non-zero, and more specifically the pulse frequencies which maximize work. The bounds explicitly depend on the pulse period an…
We study a generalized Frenkel-Kontorova model and obtain periodic and heteroclinic mountain pass solutions. Heteroclinic mountain pass solution in the second laminations is new to the generalized Frenkel-Kontorova model. Our proof follows that of Bolotin and Rabinowitz for an Allen-Cahn equation, which is different with heat flow method for finding critical point of Frenkel-Kontorova model in the literature. The proofs depend on suitable choices of functionals and working spaces. We also study the multiplicity of these mountain pass solutions.
The Frenkel-Kontorova model describes how an infinite chain of atoms minimizes the total energy of the system when the energy takes into account the interaction of nearest neighbors as well as the interaction with an exterior environment. An almost-periodic environment leads to consider a family of interaction energies which is stationary with respect to a minimal topological dynamical system. We introduce, in this context, the notion of calibrated configuration (stronger than the standard minimizing condition) and, for continuous superlinear interaction energies, we show the existence of thes…
We consider generalized Frenkel-Kontorova models on higher dimensional lattices. We show that the invariant tori which are parameterized by continuous hull functions can be destroyed by small perturbations in the $C^r$ topology with $r<1$.
We rigorously show that dissipatively driven Frenkel-Kontorova models with either uniform or time-periodic driving asymptotically synchronize for a wide range of initial conditions. The main tool is a new Lyapunov function, as well as a 2D representation of the attractor. We then characterize dynamical phase transitions and outline new algorithms for determining them.
In this paper, we consider the Frenkel-Kontorova model of a one dimensional chain of atoms submitted to a potential. This potential splits into an interaction potential and a potential induced by an underlying substrate which is a quasicrystal. Under standard hypotheses, we show that every minimal configuration has a rotation number, that the rotation number varies continuously with the minimal configuration, and that every non negative real number is the rotation number of a minimal configuration. This generalizes well known results obtained by S. Aubry and P.Y. le Daeron in the case of a cry…
We construct new traveling wave solutions of moving kink type for a modified, driven, dynamic Frenkel-Kontorova model, representing dislocation motion under stress. Formal solutions known so far are inadmissible for velocities below a thresh- old value. The new solutions fill the gap left by this loss of admissibility. Analytical and numerical evidence is presented for their existence; however, dynamic simulations suggest that they are probably unstable.
The Frenkel-Kontorova model for dislocation dynamics from 1938 is given by a chain of atoms, where neighbouring atoms interact through a linear spring and are exposed to a smooth periodic on-site potential. A dislocation moving with constant speed corresponds to a heteroclinic travelling wave, making a transition from one well of the on-site potential to another. The ensuing system is nonlocal, nonlinear and nonconvex. We present an existence result for a class of smooth nonconvex on-site potentials. Previous results in mathematics and mechanics have been limited to on-site potentials with har…
We study numerically the "analyticity breakdown" transition in 1-dimensional quasi-periodic media. This transition corresponds physically to the transition between pinned down and sliding ground states. Mathematically, it corresponds to the solutions of a functional equation losing their analyticity properties. We implemented some recent numerical algorithms that are efficient and backed up by rigorous results so that we can compute with confidence even close to the breakdown. We have uncovered several phenomena that we believe deserve a theoretical explanation: A) The transition happens in a …
Exploiting the monotone property of the gradient dynamics of the Frenkel-Kontorova model, we locate in the space of (p,q)-configurations the ordered and unordered stationary states, as well as forbidden regions for such states. Moreover we show that some generalized Frenkel--Kontorova models (associated to multiharmonic standard maps) can have ordered (p,q)--configurations that are neither action minimizing nor minimaximizing, and give their location with respect to the set of (p,q)--minimizers and minimaximizers.
Monotone variational recurrence relations such as the Frenkel-Kontorova lattice, arise in solid state physics, conservative lattice dynamics and as Hamiltonian twist maps. For such recurrence relations, Aubry-Mather theory guarantees the existence of solutions of every rotation number. They are the action minimizers that constitute the Aubry-Mather set. When the rotation number is irrational, the Aubry-Mather set is either connected or a Cantor set. A connected Aubry-Mather set is called a minimal foliation. In the case of twist maps, it describes an invariant circle, while in solid state phys…
We consider Frenkel-Kontorova models corresponding to 1 dimensional quasicrystals. We present a KAM theory for quasi-periodic equilibria. The theorem presented has an \emph{a-posteriori} format. We show that, given an approximate solution of the equilibrium equation, which satisfies some appropriate non-degeneracy conditions, then, there is a true solution nearby. This solution is locally unique. Such a-posteriori theorems can be used to validate numerical computations and also lead immediately to several consequences a) Existence to all orders of perturbative expansion and their convergence b…
We consider 1-D quasi-periodic Frenkel-Kontorova models. We study the existence of equilibria whose frequency (i.e. the inverse of the density of deposited material) is resonant with the frequencies of the substratum. We study perturbation theory for small potential. We show that there are perturbative expansions to all orders for the quasi-periodic equilibria with resonant frequencies. Under very general conditions, we show that there are at least two such perturbative expansions for equilibria for small values of the parameter. We also develop a dynamical interpretation of the equilibria in …
In this paper we study the anti-integrable limit scenario of skew-product systems. We consider a generalization of such systems based on the Frenkel-Kontorova model, and prove the existence of orbits with any fibered rotation number in systems of both one and two degrees of freedom. In particular, our results also apply to two dimensional maps with degenerate potentials (vanishing second derivative), so extending the results of existence of Cantori for more general twist maps. We also prove that under certain mild regularity conditions on the potential the structure of the orbits is of Cantor …
