arXiv subjects

Guillaume James

Publications and source records attributed to Guillaume James.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Fronts in dissipative Fermi-Pasta-Ulam-Tsingou chains

In a dissipative Fermi-Pasta-Ulam-Tsingou chain particles interact with their nearest neighbors through anharmonic potentials and linear dissipative forces. We prove the existence of front solutions connecting two different uniformly compressed (or stretched) states at $\pm \infty$ using an implicit function argument starting at a suitable continuum limit in the case of large damping. A detailed analysis allows us to show monotonicity of waves and to determine sharp exponential decay rates for a wide class of potentials including Hertzian potentials.

math.AP↗

arXiv2016

Breathers in a locally resonant granular chain with precompression

We study a locally resonant granular material in the form of a precompressed Hertzian chain with linear internal resonators. Using an asymptotic reduction, we derive an effective nonlinear Schrödinger (NLS) modulation equation. This, in turn, leads us to provide analytical evidence, subsequently corroborated numerically, for the existence of two distinct types of discrete breathers related to acoustic or optical modes: (a) traveling bright breathers with a strain profile exponentially vanishing at infinity and (b) stationary and traveling dark breathers, exponentially localized, time-periodic states mounted on top of a non-vanishing background. The stability and bifurcation structure of numerically computed exact stationary dark breathers is also examined. Stationary bright breathers cannot be identified using the NLS equation, which is defocusing at the upper edges of the phonon bands and becomes linear at the lower edge of the optical band.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2015

Nonlinear waves in a strongly nonlinear resonant granular chain

We explore a recently proposed locally resonant granular system bearing harmonic internal resonators in a chain of beads interacting via Hertzian elastic contacts. In this system, we propose the existence of two types of configurations: (a) small-amplitude periodic traveling waves and (b) dark-breather solutions, i.e., exponentially localized, time periodic states mounted on top of a non-vanishing background. We also identify conditions under which the system admits long-lived bright breather solutions. Our results are obtained by means of an asymptotic reduction to a suitably modified version of the so-called discrete p-Schr{ö}dinger (DpS) equation, which is established as controllably approximating the solutions of the original system for large but finite times (under suitable assumptions on the solution amplitude and the resonator mass). The findings are also corroborated by detailed numerical computations. A remarkable feature distinguishing our results from other settings where dark breathers are observed is the complete absence of precompression in the system, i.e., the absence of a linear spectral band.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2014

Gaussian solitary waves and compactons in Fermi-Pasta-Ulam lattices with Hertzian potentials

We consider a class of fully-nonlinear Fermi-Pasta-Ulam (FPU) lattices, consisting of a chain of particles coupled by fractional power nonlinearities of order $α>1$. This class of systems incorporates a classical Hertzian model describing acoustic wave propagation in chains of touching beads in the absence of precompression. We analyze the propagation of localized waves when $α$ is close to unity. Solutions varying slowly in space and time are searched with an appropriate scaling, and two asymptotic models of the chain of particles are derived consistently. The first one is a logarithmic KdV equation, and possesses linearly orbitally stable Gaussian solitary wave solutions. The second model consists of a generalized KdV equation with Hölder-continuous fractional power nonlinearity and admits compacton solutions, i.e. solitary waves with compact support. When $α\rightarrow 1^+$, we numerically establish the asymptotically Gaussian shape of exact FPU solitary waves with near-sonic speed, and analytically check the pointwise convergence of compactons towards the limiting Gaussian profile.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2013

Breather solutions of the discrete p-Schrödinger equation

We consider the discrete p-Schrödinger (DpS) equation, which approximates small amplitude oscillations in chains of oscillators with fully-nonlinear nearest-neighbors interactions of order alpha = p-1 >1. Using a mapping approach, we prove the existence of breather solutions of the DpS equation with even- or odd-parity reflectional symmetries. We derive in addition analytical approximations for the breather profiles and the corresponding intersecting stable and unstable manifolds, valid on a whole range of nonlinearity orders alpha. In the limit of weak nonlinearity (alpha --> 1^+), we introduce a continuum limit connecting the stationary DpS and logarithmic nonlinear Schrödinger equations. In this limit, breathers correspond asymptotically to Gaussian homoclinic solutions. We numerically analyze the stability properties of breather solutions depending on their even- or odd-parity symmetry. A perturbation of an unstable breather generally results in a translational motion (traveling breather) when alpha is close to unity, whereas pinning becomes predominant for larger values of alpha.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2013

From Newton's cradle to the discrete p-Schrödinger equation

We investigate the dynamics of a chain of oscillators coupled by fully-nonlinear interaction potentials. This class of models includes Newton's cradle with Hertzian contact interactions between neighbors. By means of multiple-scale analysis, we give a rigorous asymptotic description of small amplitude solutions over large times. The envelope equation leading to approximate solutions is a discrete p-Schrödinger equation. Our results include the existence of long-lived breather solutions to the original model. For a large class of localized initial conditions, we also estimate the maximal decay of small amplitude solutions over long times.

math.DS↗

arXiv2013

Breathers and surface modes in oscillator chains with Hertzian interactions

We study localized waves in chains of oscillators coupled by Hertzian interactions and trapped in local potentials. This problem is originally motivated by Newton's cradle, a mechanical system consisting of a chain of touching beads subject to gravity and attached to inelastic strings. We consider an unusual setting with local oscillations and collisions acting on similar time scales, a situation corresponding e.g. to a modified Newton's cradle with beads mounted on stiff cantilevers. Such systems support static and traveling breathers with unusual properties, including double exponential spatial decay, almost vanishing Peierls-Nabarro barrier and spontaneous direction-reversing motion. We prove analytically the existence of surface modes and static breathers for anharmonic on-site potentials and weak Hertzian interactions.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2012

Periodic travelling waves and compactons in granular chains

We study the propagation of an unusual type of periodic travelling waves in chains of identical beads interacting via Hertz's contact forces. Each bead periodically undergoes a compression phase followed by a free flight, due to special properties of Hertzian interactions (fully nonlinear under compression and vanishing in the absence of contact). We prove the existence of such waves close to binary oscillations, and numerically continue these solutions when their wavelength is increased. In the long wave limit, we observe their convergence towards shock profiles consisting of small compression regions close to solitary waves, alternating with large domains of free flight where bead velocities are small. We give formal arguments to justify this asymptotic behaviour, using a matching technique and previous results concerning solitary wave solutions. The numerical finding of such waves implies the existence of compactons, i.e. compactly supported compression waves propagating at a constant velocity, depending on the amplitude and width of the wave. The beads are stationary and separated by equal gaps outside the wave, and each bead reached by the wave is shifted by a finite distance during a finite time interval. Below a critical wavenumber, we observe fast instabilities of the periodic travelling waves leading to a disordered regime.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2011

Breathers in oscillator chains with Hertzian interactions

We prove nonexistence of breathers (spatially localized and time-periodic oscillations) for a class of Fermi-Pasta-Ulam lattices representing an uncompressed chain of beads interacting via Hertz's contact forces. We then consider the setting in which an additional on-site potential is present, motivated by the Newton's cradle under the effect of gravity. Using both direct numerical computations and a simplified asymptotic model of the oscillator chain, the so-called discrete p-Schrödinger (DpS) equation, we show the existence of discrete breathers and study their spectral properties and mobility. Due to the fully nonlinear character of Hertzian interactions, breathers are found to be much more localized than in classical nonlinear lattices and their motion occurs with less dispersion. In addition, we study numerically the excitation of a traveling breather after an impact at one end of a semi-infinite chain. This case is well described by the DpS equation when local oscillations are faster than binary collisions, a situation occuring e.g. in chains of stiff cantilevers decorated by spherical beads. When a hard anharmonic part is added to the local potential, a new type of traveling breather emerges, showing spontaneous direction-reversing in a spatially homogeneous system. Finally, the interaction of a moving breather with a point defect is also considered in the cradle system. Almost total breather reflections are observed at sufficiently high defect sizes, suggesting potential applications of such systems as shock wave reflectors.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2010

Breather continuation from infinity in nonlinear oscillator chains

Existence of large-amplitude time-periodic breathers localized near a single site is proved for the discrete Klein--Gordon equation, in the case when the derivative of the on-site potential has a compact support. Breathers are obtained at small coupling between oscillators and under nonresonance conditions. Our method is different from the classical anti-continuum limit developed by MacKay and Aubry, and yields in general branches of breather solutions that cannot be captured with this approach. When the coupling constant goes to zero, the amplitude and period of oscillations at the excited site go to infinity. Our method is based on near-identity transformations, analysis of singular limits in nonlinear oscillator equations, and fixed-point arguments.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2010

Nonlinear waves in Newton's cradle and the discrete p-Schroedinger equation

We study nonlinear waves in Newton's cradle, a classical mechanical system consisting of a chain of beads attached to linear pendula and interacting nonlinearly via Hertz's contact forces. We formally derive a spatially discrete modulation equation, for small amplitude nonlinear waves consisting of slow modulations of time-periodic linear oscillations. The fully-nonlinear and unilateral interactions between beads yield a nonstandard modulation equation that we call the discrete p-Schroedinger (DpS) equation. It consists of a spatial discretization of a generalized Schroedinger equation with p-Laplacian, with fractional p>2 depending on the exponent of Hertz's contact force. We show that the DpS equation admits explicit periodic travelling wave solutions, and numerically find a plethora of standing wave solutions given by the orbits of a discrete map, in particular spatially localized breather solutions. Using a modified Lyapunov-Schmidt technique, we prove the existence of exact periodic travelling waves in the chain of beads, close to the small amplitude modulated waves given by the DpS equation. Using numerical simulations, we show that the DpS equation captures several other important features of the dynamics in the weakly nonlinear regime, namely modulational instabilities, the existence of static and travelling breathers, and repulsive or attractive interactions of these localized structures.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2008

Modelling DNA at the mesoscale: a challenge for nonlinear science?

When it is viewed at the scale of a base pair, DNA appears as a nonlinear lattice. Modelling its properties is a fascinating goal. The detailed experiments that can be performed on this system impose constraints on the models and can be used as a guide to improve them. There are nevertheless many open problems, particularly to describe DNA at the scale of a few tens of base pairs, which is relevant for many biological phenomena.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2007

Breathers in inhomogeneous nonlinear lattices: an analysis via centre manifold reduction

We consider an infinite chain of particles linearly coupled to their nearest neighbours and subject to an anharmonic local potential. The chain is assumed weakly inhomogeneous. We look for small amplitude discrete breathers. The problem is reformulated as a nonautonomous recurrence in a space of time-periodic functions, where the dynamics is considered along the discrete spatial coordinate. We show that small amplitude oscillations are determined by finite-dimensional nonautonomous mappings, whose dimension depends on the solutions frequency. We consider the case of two-dimensional reduced mappings, which occurs for frequencies close to the edges of the phonon band. For an homogeneous chain, the reduced map is autonomous and reversible, and bifurcations of reversible homoclinics or heteroclinic solutions are found for appropriate parameter values. These orbits correspond respectively to discrete breathers, or dark breathers superposed on a spatially extended standing wave. Breather existence is shown in some cases for any value of the coupling constant, which generalizes an existence result obtained by MacKay and Aubry at small coupling. For an inhomogeneous chain the study of the nonautonomous reduced map is in general far more involved. For the principal part of the reduced recurrence, using the assumption of weak inhomogeneity, we show that homoclinics to 0 exist when the image of the unstable manifold under a linear transformation intersects the stable manifold. This provides a geometrical understanding of tangent bifurcations of discrete breathers. The case of a mass impurity is studied in detail, and our geometrical analysis is successfully compared with direct numerical simulations.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2007

Bifurcations of discrete breathers in a diatomic Fermi-Pasta-Ulam chain

Discrete breathers are time-periodic, spatially localized solutions of the equations of motion for a system of classical degrees of freedom interacting on a lattice. Such solutions are investigated for a diatomic Fermi-Pasta-Ulam chain, i. e., a chain of alternate heavy and light masses coupled by anharmonic forces. For hard interaction potentials, discrete breathers in this model are known to exist either as ``optic breathers'' with frequencies above the optic band, or as ``acoustic breathers'' with frequencies in the gap between the acoustic and the optic band. In this paper, bifurcations between different types of discrete breathers are found numerically, with the mass ratio m and the breather frequency omega as bifurcation parameters. We identify a period tripling bifurcation around optic breathers, which leads to new breather solutions with frequencies in the gap, and a second local bifurcation around acoustic breathers. These results provide new breather solutions of the FPU system which interpolate between the classical acoustic and optic modes. The two bifurcation lines originate from a particular ``corner'' in parameter space (omega,m). As parameters lie near this corner, we prove by means of a center manifold reduction that small amplitude solutions can be described by a four-dimensional reversible map. This allows us to derive formally a continuum limit differential equation which characterizes at leading order the numerically observed bifurcations.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2004

Numerical computation of travelling breathers in Klein-Gordon chains

We numerically study the existence of travelling breathers in Klein-Gordon chains, which consist of one-dimensional networks of nonlinear oscillators in an anharmonic on-site potential, linearly coupled to their nearest neighbors. Travelling breathers are spatially localized solutions having the property of being exactly translated by $p$ sites along the chain after a fixed propagation time $T$ (these solutions generalize the concept of solitary waves for which $p=1$). In the case of even on-site potentials, the existence of small amplitude travelling breathers superposed on a small oscillatory tail has been proved recently (G. James and Y. Sire, to appear in {\sl Comm. Math. Phys.}, 2004), the tail being exponentially small with respect to the central oscillation size. In this paper we compute these solutions numerically and continue them into the large amplitude regime for different types of even potentials. We find that Klein-Gordon chains can support highly localized travelling breather solutions superposed on an oscillatory tail. We provide examples where the tail can be made very small and is difficult to detect at the scale of central oscillations. In addition we numerically observe the existence of these solutions in the case of non even potentials.

nlin.PS↗