arXiv subjects

P. G. Kevrekidis

Publications and source records attributed to P. G. Kevrekidis.

At least 433 records · Page 24Linked to original sources

arXiv2007

Highly Nonlinear Solitary Waves in Heterogeneous Periodic Granular Media

We use experiments, numerical simulations, and theoretical analysis to investigate the propagation of highly nonlinear solitary waves in periodic arrangements of dimer (two-mass) and trimer (three-mass) cell structures in one-dimensional granular lattices. To vary the composition of the fundamental periodic units in the granular chains, we utilize beads of different materials (stainless steel, bronze, glass, nylon, polytetrafluoroethylene, and rubber). This selection allows us to tailor the response of the system based on the masses, Poisson ratios, and elastic moduli of the components. For example, we examine dimer configurations with two types of heavy particles, two types of light particles, and alternating light and heavy particles. Employing a model with Hertzian interactions between adjacent beads, we find very good agreement between experiments and numerical simulations. We find equally good agreement between these results and a theoretical analysis of the model in the long-wavelength regime that we derive for heterogeneous environments (dimer chains) and general bead interactions. Our analysis encompasses previously-studied examples as special cases and also provides key insights on the influence of heterogeneous lattices on the properties (width and propagation speed) of the nonlinear wave solutions of this system.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2007

Vortex Structures Formed by the Interference of Sliced Condensates

We study the formation of vortices, vortex necklaces and vortex ring structures as a result of the interference of higher-dimensional Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs). This study is motivated by earlier theoretical results pertaining to the formation of dark solitons by interfering quasi one-dimensional BECs, as well as recent experiments demonstrating the formation of vortices by interfering higher-dimensional BECs. Here, we demonstrate the genericity of the relevant scenario, but also highlight a number of additional possibilities emerging in higher-dimensional settings. A relevant example is, e.g., the formation of a "cage" of vortex rings surrounding the three-dimensional bulk of the condensed atoms. The effects of the relative phases of the different BEC fragments and the role of damping due to coupling with the thermal cloud are also discussed. Our predictions should be immediately tractable in currently existing experimental BEC setups.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2007

Radially Symmetric Nonlinear States of Harmonically Trapped Bose-Einstein Condensates

Starting from the spectrum of the radially symmetric quantum harmonic oscillator in two dimensions, we create a large set of nonlinear solutions. The relevant three principal branches, with $n_r=0,1$ and 2 radial nodes respectively, are systematically continued as a function of the chemical potential and their linear stability is analyzed in detail, in the absence as well as in the presence of topological charge $m$, i.e., vorticity. It is found that for repulsive interatomic interactions {\it only} the ground state is {\it linearly stable} throughout the parameter range examined. Furthermore, this is true for topological charges $m=0$ or $m=1$; solutions with higher topological charge can be unstable even in that case. All higher excited states are found to be unstable in a wide parametric regime. However, for the focusing/attractive case the ground state with $n_r=0$ and $m=0$ can only be stable for a sufficiently low number of atoms. Once again, excited states are found to be generically unstable. For unstable profiles, the dynamical evolution of the corresponding branches is also followed to monitor the temporal development of the instability.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2007

Highly Nonlinear Solitary Waves in Periodic Dimer Granular Chains

We report the propagation of highly nonlinear solitary waves in heterogeneous, periodic granular media using experiments, numerical simulations, and theoretical analysis. We examine periodic arrangements of particles in experiments in which stiffer/heavier beads (stainless steel) are alternated with softer/lighter ones (PTFE beads). We find excellent agreement between experiments and numerics in a model with Hertzian interactions between adjacent beads, which in turn agrees very well with a theoretical analysis of the model in the long-wavelength regime that we derive for heterogeneous environments and general bead interactions. Our analysis encompasses previously-studied examples as special cases and also provides key insights on the influence of the dimer lattice on the properties (width and propagation speed) of the obtained highly nonlinear wave solutions.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2007

Solitons in one-dimensional nonlinear Schrödinger lattices with a local inhomogeneity

In this paper we analyze the existence, stability, dynamical formation and mobility properties of localized solutions in a one-dimensional system described by the discrete nonlinear Schrödinger equation with a linear point defect. We consider both attractive and repulsive defects in a focusing lattice. Among our main findings are: a) the destabilization of the on--site mode centered at the defect in the repulsive case; b) the disappearance of localized modes in the vicinity of the defect due to saddle-node bifurcations for sufficiently strong defects of either type; c) the decrease of the amplitude formation threshold for attractive and its increase for repulsive defects; and d) the detailed elucidation as a function of initial speed and defect strength of the different regimes (trapping, trapping and reflection, pure reflection and pure transmission) of interaction of a moving localized mode with the defect.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2007

Dynamical Barrier for the Formation of Solitary Waves in Discrete Lattices

We consider the problem of the existence of a dynamical barrier of ``mass'' that needs to be excited on a lattice site to lead to the formation and subsequent persistence of localized modes for a nonlinear Schrodinger lattice. We contrast the existence of a dynamical barrier with its absence in the static theory of localized modes in one spatial dimension. We suggest an energetic criterion that provides a sufficient, but not necessary, condition on the amplitude of a single-site initial condition required to form a solitary wave. We show that this effect is not one-dimensional by considering its two-dimensional analog. The existence of a sufficient condition for the excitation of localized modes in the non-integrable, discrete, nonlinear Schrodinger equation is compared to the dynamics of excitations in the integrable, both discrete and continuum, version of the nonlinear Schrodinger equation.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2007

Dynamics of Vortex Formation in Merging Bose-Einstein Condensate Fragments

We study the formation of vortices in a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) that has been prepared by allowing isolated and independent condensed fragments to merge together. We focus on the experimental setup of Scherer {\it et al.} [Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 98}, 110402 (2007)], where three BECs are created in a magnetic trap that is segmented into three regions by a repulsive optical potential; the BECs merge together as the optical potential is removed. First, we study the two-dimensional case, in particular we examine the effects of the relative phases of the different fragments and the removal rate of the optical potential on the vortex formation. We find that many vortices are created by instant removal of the optical potential regardless of relative phases, and that fewer vortices are created if the intensity of the optical potential is gradually ramped down and the condensed fragments gradually merge. In all cases, self-annihilation of vortices of opposite charge is observed. We also find that for sufficiently long barrier ramp times, the initial relative phases between the fragments leave a clear imprint on the resulting topological configuration. Finally, we study the three-dimensional system and the formation of vortex lines and vortex rings due to the merger of the BEC fragments; our results illustrate how the relevant vorticity is manifested for appropriate phase differences, as well as how it may be masked by the planar projections observed experimentally.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2007

Faraday waves in Bose-Einstein condensates

Motivated by recent experiments on Faraday waves in Bose-Einstein condensates we investigate both analytically and numerically the dynamics of cigar-shaped Bose-condensed gases subject to periodic modulation of the strength of the transverse confinement. We offer a fully analytical explanation of the observed parametric resonance, based on a Mathieu-type analysis of the non-polynomial Schr{ö}dinger equation. The theoretical prediction for the pattern periodicity versus the driving frequency is directly compared with the experimental data, yielding good qualitative and quantitative agreement between the two. These results are corroborated by direct numerical simulations of both the one-dimensional non-polynomial Schr{ö}dinger equation and of the fully three-dimensional Gross-Pitaevskii equation.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2007

Dark matter-wave solitons in the dimensionality crossover

We consider the statics and dynamics of dark matter-wave solitons in the dimensionality crossover regime from 3D to 1D. There, using the nonpolynomial Schrödinger mean-field model, we find that the anomalous mode of the Bogoliubov spectrum has an eigenfrequency which coincides with the soliton oscillation frequency obtained by the 3D Gross-Pitaevskii model. We show that substantial deviations (of order of 10% or more) from the characteristic frequency $ω_{z}/\sqrt{2}$ ($ω_{z}$ being the longitudinal trap frequency) are possible even in the purely 1D regime.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2007

Bright-Dark Soliton Complexes in Spinor Bose-Einstein Condensates

We present bright-dark vector solitons in quasi-one-dimensional spinor (F=1) Bose-Einstein condensates. Using a multiscale expansion technique, we reduce the corresponding nonintegrable system of three coupled Gross-Pitaevskii equations (GPEs) to a completely integrable Yajima-Oikawa system. In this way, we obtain approximate solutions for small-amplitude vector solitons of dark-dark-bright and bright-bright-dark types, in terms of the $m_{F}=+1,-1,0$ spinor components, respectively. By means of numerical simulations of the full GPE system, we demonstrate that these states indeed feature soliton properties, i.e., they propagate undistorted and undergo quasi-elastic collisions. It is also shown that, in the presence of a parabolic trap of strength $ω$, the bright component(s) is (are) guided by the dark one(s), and, as a result, the small-amplitude vector soliton as a whole performs harmonic oscillations of frequency $ω/ \sqrt{2}$ in the shallow soliton limit. We investigate numerically deviations from this prediction, as the depth of the solitons is increased, as well as when the strength of the spin-dependent interaction is modified.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2007

Two-dimensional discrete solitons in rotating lattices

We introduce a two-dimensional (2D) discrete nonlinear Schrödinger (DNLS) equation with self-attractive cubic nonlinearity in a rotating reference frame. The model applies to a Bose-Einstein condensate stirred by a rotating strong optical lattice, or light propagation in a twisted bundle of nonlinear fibers. Two species of localized states are constructed: off-axis fundamental solitons (FSs), placed at distance $R$ from the rotation pivot, and on-axis (R=0) vortex solitons (VSs), with vorticities $% S=1$ and 2. At a fixed value of rotation frequency $Ω$, a stability interval for the FSs is found in terms of the lattice coupling constant $C$, $% 0<C<C_{\mathrm{cr}}(R)$, with monotonically decreasing $C_{\mathrm{cr}}(R)$. VSs with S=1 have a stability interval, $\tilde{C}_{\mathrm{cr}%}^{(S=1)}(Ω)<C<C_{\mathrm{cr}}^{(S=1)}(Ω)$, which exists for $% Ω$ below a certain critical value, $Ω_{\mathrm{cr}}^{(S=1)}$. This implies that the VSs with S=1 are \emph{destabilized} in the weak-coupling limit by the rotation. On the contrary, VSs with S=2, that are known to be unstable in the standard DNLS equation, with $Ω=0$, are \emph{stabilized} by the rotation in region $0<C<C_{\mathrm{cr}}^{(S=2)}$%, with $C_{\mathrm{cr}}^{(S=2)}$ growing as a function of $Ω$. Quadrupole and octupole on-axis solitons are considered too, their stability regions being weakly affected by $Ω\neq 0$.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2007

Non-Equilibrium Dynamics and Superfluid Ring Excitations in Binary Bose-Einstein Condensates

We revisit a classic study [D. S. Hall {\it et al.}, Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 81}, 1539 (1998)] of interpenetrating Bose-Einstein condensates in the hyperfine states $\ket{F = 1, m_f = -1}\equiv\ket{1}$ and $\ket{F = 2, m_f = +1}\equiv\ket{2}$ of ${}^{87}$Rb and observe striking new non-equilibrium component separation dynamics in the form of oscillating ring-like structures. The process of component separation is not significantly damped, a finding that also contrasts sharply with earlier experimental work, allowing a clean first look at a collective excitation of a binary superfluid. We further demonstrate extraordinary quantitative agreement between theoretical and experimental results using a multi-component mean-field model with key additional features: the inclusion of atomic losses and the careful characterization of trap potentials (at the level of a fraction of a percent).

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2007

Soliton oscillations in collisionally inhomogeneous attractive Bose-Einstein condensates

We investigate bright matter-wave solitons in the presence of a spatially varying nonlinearity. It is demonstrated that a translation mode is excited due to the spatial inhomogeneity and its frequency is derived analytically and also studied numerically. Both cases of purely one-dimensional and ``cigar-shaped'' condensates are studied by means of different mean-field models, and the oscillation frequencies of the pertinent solitons are found and compared with the results obtained by the linear stability analysis.Numerical results are shown to be in very good agreement with the corresponding analytical predictions.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2007

Generalized Neighbor-Interaction Models Induced by Nonlinear Lattices

It is shown that the tight-binding approximation of the nonlinear Schrödinger equation with a periodic linear potential and periodic in space nonlinearity coefficient gives rise to a number of nonlinear lattices with complex, both linear and nonlinear, neighbor interactions. The obtained lattices present non-standard possibilities, among which we mention a quasi-linear regime, where the pulse dynamics obeys essentially the linear Schr{ö}dinger equation. We analyze the properties of such models both in connection with their modulational stability, as well as in regard to the existence and stability of their localized solitary wave solutions.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2007

Solitary Waves Under the Competition of Linear and Nonlinear Periodic Potentials

In this paper, we study the competition of linear and nonlinear lattices and its effects on the stability and dynamics of bright solitary waves. We consider both lattices in a perturbative framework, whereby the technique of Hamiltonian perturbation theory can be used to obtain information about the existence of solutions, and the same approach, as well as eigenvalue count considerations, can be used to obtained detailed conditions about their linear stability. We find that the analytical results are in very good agreement with our numerical findings and can also be used to predict features of the dynamical evolution of such solutions.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2007

Polarized States and Domain Walls in Spinor Bose-Einstein Condensates

We study spin-polarized states and their stability in anti-ferromagnetic states of spinor (F=1) quasi-one-dimensional Bose-Einstein condensates. Using analytical approximations and numerical methods, we find various types of polarized states, including: patterns of the Thomas-Fermi type; structures with a pulse-shape in one component inducing a hole in the other components; states with holes in all three components; and domain walls. A Bogoliubov-de Gennes analysis reveals that families of these states contain intervals of a weak oscillatory instability, except for the domain walls, which are always stable. The development of the instabilities is examined by means of direct numerical simulations.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2007

Modulational Instability in Nonlinearity-Managed Optical Media

We investigate analytically, numerically, and experimentally the modulational instability in a layered, cubically-nonlinear (Kerr) optical medium that consists of alternating layers of glass and air. We model this setting using a nonlinear Schrödinger (NLS) equation with a piecewise constant nonlinearity coefficient and conduct a theoretical analysis of its linear stability, obtaining a Kronig-Penney equation whose forbidden bands correspond to the modulationally unstable regimes. We find very good {\it quantitative} agreement between the theoretical analysis of the Kronig-Penney equation, numerical simulations of the NLS equation, and the experimental results for the modulational instability. Because of the periodicity in the evolution variable arising from the layered medium, we find multiple instability regions rather than just the one that would occur in uniform media.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2007

Periodic oscillations of dark solitons in parabolic potentials

We reformulate the Gross-Pitaevskii equation with an external parabolic potential as a discrete dynamical system, by using the basis of Hermite functions. We consider small amplitude stationary solutions with a single node, called dark solitons, and examine their existence and linear stability. Furthermore, we prove the persistence of a periodic motion in a neighborhood of such solutions. Our results are corroborated by numerical computations elucidating the existence, linear stability and dynamics of the relevant solutions.

cond-mat.other↗