arXiv subjects

Jonathan AD Wattis

Publications and source records attributed to Jonathan AD Wattis.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Asymptotic Analysis of discrete nonlinear localised modes in a Kagome lattice

We describe a nonlinear kagome lattice with nonlinear dynamics described by Klein-Gordon interactions with a scalar unknown at each node, such as might occur in a nonlinear electrical lattice. We show that the dispersion relation has three bands - a flat band and two other surfaces which may meet in Dirac points or be separated by a gap. By using multiple scales asymptotic methods, we find a variety of reductions to nonlinear Schrodinger (NLS) systems, some of which are similar to those obtained previously, and have the Townes soliton as a solution. We find a novel system of coupled NLS equations, by forming an asymptotic expansion for small amplitude weakly nonlinear waves around the point where the flat band meets the upper surface of the dispersion relation. We analyse this 2+1 dimensional system using Lie symmetries, and find further reductions to more complicated solitary wave solutions. Numerical simulations of the wave are also presented.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2022

Breather modes of fully nonlinear mass-in-mass chains

We propose a model for a chain of particles coupled by nonlinear springs in which each mass has an internal mass and all interactions are assumed to be nonlinear. We show how to construct an asymptotic solution of this system using multiple timescales, the systematic solution of coupled equations by repeated application of a consistency condition. Our results show that for some combinations of nonlinearity the dynamics are governed by the NLS as in the more usual mass-in-mass chains with linear interactions between inner and outer masses. However, when both nonlinearities have quadratic components, we show that the asymptotic reduction results in a Ginzburg-Landau equation instead of NLS.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2014

Discrete breathers in honeycomb Fermi-Pasta-Ulam lattices

We consider the two-dimensional Fermi-Pasta-Ulam lattice with hexagonal honeycomb symmetry, which is a Hamiltonian system describing the evolution of a scalar-valued quantity subject to nearest neighbour interactions. Using multiple-scale analysis we reduce the governing lattice equations to a nonlinear Schrodinger (NLS) equation coupled to a second equation for an accompanying slow mode. Two cases in which the latter equation can be solved and so the system decoupled are considered in more detail: firstly, in the case of a symmetric potential, we derive the form of moving breathers. We find an ellipticity criterion for the wavenumbers of the carrier wave, together with asymptotic estimates for the breather energy. The minimum energy threshold depends on the wavenumber of the breather. We find that this threshold is locally maximised by stationary breathers. Secondly, for an asymmetric potential we find stationary breathers, which, even with a quadratic nonlinearity generate no second harmonic component in the breather. Plots of all our findings show clear hexagonal symmetry as we would expect from our lattice structure. Finally, we compare the properties of stationary breathers in the square, triangular and honeycomb lattices.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2010

Mathematical models of homochiralisation by grinding of crystals

We review the existing mathematical models which describe physicochemical mechanisms capable of producing a symmetry-breaking transition to a state in which one chirality dominates the other. A new model is proposed, with the aim of elucidating the fundamental processes at work in the crystal grinding systems of Viedma [Phys Rev Lett 94, 065504, (2005)] and Noorduin [J Am Chem Soc 130, 1158, (2008)]. We simplify the model as far as possible to uncover the fundamental competitive process which causes the symmetry-breaking, and analyse other simplifications which might be expected to show symmetry-breaking.

q-bio.BM↗

arXiv2004

Symmetry-breaking in chiral polymerisation

We propose a model for chiral polymerisation and investigate its symmetric and asymmetric solutions. The model has a source species which decays into left- and right-handed types of monomer, each of which can polymerise to form homochiral chains; these chains are susceptible to `poisoning' by the opposite handed monomer. Homochiral polymers are assumed to influence the proportion of each type of monomer formed from the precursor. We show that for certain parameter values a positive feedback mechanism makes the symmetric steady-state solution unstable. The kinetics of polymer formation are then analysed in the case where the system starts from zero concentrations of monomer and chains. We show that following a long induction time, extremely large concentrations of polymers are formed for a short time, during this time an asymmetry introduced into the system by a random external perturbation may be massively amplified. The system then approaches one of the steady-state solutions described above.

physics.bio-ph↗

arXiv2001

Renormalisation-theoretic analysis of non-equilibrium phase transitions I: The Becker-Doring equations with power law rate coefficients

We study in detail the application of renormalisation theory to models of cluster aggregation and fragmentation of relevance to nucleation and growth processes. We investigate the Becker-Dorging equations, originally formulated to describe and analyse non-equilibrium phase transitions, and more recently generalised to describe a wide range of physicochemical problems. In the present paper we analyse how the systematic coarse-graining renormalisation of the \BD system of equations affects the aggregation and fragmentation rate coefficients. We consider the case of power-law size-dependent cluster rate coefficients which we show lead to only three classes of system that require analysis: coagulation-dominated systems, fragmentation-dominated systems and those where coagulation and fragmentation are exactly balanced. We analyse the late-time asymptotics associated with each class.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2001

Renormalisation-theoretic analysis of non-equilibrium phase transitions II: The effect of perturbations on rate coefficients in the Becker-Doring equations

We study in detail the application of renormalisation theory to models of cluster aggregation and fragmentation of relevance to nucleation and growth processes. In particular, we investigate the Becker-Doring (BD) equations, originally formulated to describe and analyse non-equilibrium phase transitions, but more recently generalised to describe a wide range of physicochemical problems. We consider here rate coefficients which depend on the cluster size in a power-law fashion, but now perturbed by small amplitude random noise. Power-law rate coefficients arise naturally in the theory of surface-controlled nucleation and growth processes. The noisy perturbations on these rates reflect the effect of microscopic variations in such mean-field coefficients, thermal fluctuations and/or experimental uncertainties. In the present paper we generalise our earlier work that identified the nine classes into which all dynamical behaviour must fall by investigating how random perturbations of the rate coefficients influence the steady-state and kinetic behaviour of the coarse-grained, renormalised system. We are hence able to confirm the existence of a set of up to nine universality classes for such BD systems.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗