arXiv subjects
Publications and source records attributed to P. G. Kevrekidis.
In this brief report, we consider parametrically driven bright solitons in the vicinity of the anti-continuum limit. We illustrate the mechanism through which these solitons become unstable due to the collision of the phase mode with the continuous spectrum, or eigenvelues bifurcating thereof. We show how this mechanism typically leads to complete destruction of the bright solitary wave.
Motivated by recent experimental studies of matter-waves and optical beams in double well potentials, we study the solutions of the nonlinear Schrödinger equation in such a context. Using a Galerkin-type approach, we obtain a detailed handle on the nonlinear solution branches of the problem, starting from the corresponding linear ones and predict the relevant bifurcations of solutions for both attractive and repulsive nonlinearities. The results illustrate the nontrivial differences that arise between the steady states/bifurcations emerging in symmetric and asymmetric double wells.
We construct discrete analogs of Skyrmions in nonlinear dynamical lattices. The Skyrmion is built as a vortex soliton of a complex field, coupled to a dark radial soliton of a real field. Adjusting the Skyrmion ansatz to the lattice setting allows us to construct a "baby-Skyrmion" in two dimensions (2D) and extend it into the 3D case (1D counterparts of the Skyrmions are also found). Stability limits for these patterns are obtained analytically and verified numerically. The dynamics of unstable discrete Skyrmions is explored, and their stabilization by external potentials is discussed.
We demonstrate the systematic derivation of a class of discretizations of nonlinear Schr{ö}dinger (NLS) equations for general polynomial nonlinearity whose stationary solutions can be found from a reduced two-point algebraic condition. We then focus on the cubic problem and illustrate how our class of models compares with the well-known discretizations such as the standard discrete NLS equation, or the integrable variant thereof. We also discuss the conservation laws of the derived generalizations of the cubic case, such as the lattice momentum or mass and the connection with their corresponding continuum siblings.
Motivated by recent experimental and theoretical results on optical X-waves, we propose a new type of waveforms in 2D and 3D discrete media -- multi-legged extended nonlinear structures (ENS), built as arrays of lattice solitons (tiles or stones, in the 2D and 3D cases, respectively). First, we study the stability of the tiles and stones analytically, and then extend them numerically to complete ENS forms for both 2D and 3D lattices. The predicted patterns are relevant to a variety of physical settings, such as Bose-Einstein condensates in deep optical lattices, lattices built of microresonators, photorefractive crystals with optically induced lattices (in the 2D case) and others.
The scalar field degree of freedom in Einstein's plus Matter field equations is decoupled for Bianchi type I and V general cosmological models. The source, apart from the minimally coupled scalar field with arbitrary potential V(Phi), is provided by a perfect fluid obeying a general equation of state p =p(rho). The resulting ODE is, by an appropriate choice of final time gauge affiliated to the scalar field, reduced to 1st order, and then the system is completely integrated for arbitrary choices of the potential and the equation of state.
We introduce an inhomogeneously-nonlinear Schr{ö}dinger lattice, featuring a defocusing segment, a focusing segment and a transitional interface between the two. We illustrate that such inhomogeneous settings present vastly different dynamical behavior than the one expected in their homogeneous counterparts in the vicinity of the interface. We analyze the relevant stationary states, as well as their stability by means of perturbation theory and linear stability analysis. We find good agreement with the numerical findings in the vicinity of the anti-continuum limit. For larger values of the coupling, we follow the relevant branches numerically and show that they terminate at values of the coupling strength which are larger for more extended solutions. The dynamical development of relevant instabilities is also monitored in the case of unstable solutions.
We consider polarons in models of coupled electronic and vibrational degrees of freedom, in the presence of a soft nonlinear inter-particle potential (Morse potential). In particular, we focus on a a bound state of a polaron with a breather, a so-called ``polarobreather''. We analyze the existence of this branch based on frequency resonance conditions and illustrate its stability using Floquet spectrum techniques. Multi-site solutions of this type are also obtained both in the stationary case (two-site polarons) and in the breathing case (two-site polarobreathers). We also obtain a different branch of solutions, namely a polaronic nanopteron.
We analyze the existence and stability of bright, dark, and gap matter-wave solitons in optical superlattices. Then, using these properties, we show that (time-dependent) ``dynamical superlattices'' can be used to controllably place, guide, and manipulate these solitons. In particular, we use numerical experiments to displace solitons by turning on a secondary lattice structure, transfer solitons from one location to another by shifting one superlattice substructure relative to the other, and implement solitonic ``path-following'', in which a matter wave follows the time-dependent lattice substructure into oscillatory motion.
We study discrete vortices in coupled discrete nonlinear Schrodinger equations. We focus on the vortex cross configuration that has been experimentally observed in photorefractive crystals. Stability of the single-component vortex cross in the anti-continuum limit of small coupling between lattice nodes is proved. In the vector case, we consider two coupled configurations of vortex crosses, namely the charge-one vortex in one component coupled in the other component to either the charge-one vortex (forming a double-charge vortex) or the charge-negative-one vortex (forming a, so-called, hidden-charge vortex). We show that both vortex configurations are stable in the anti-continuum limit if the parameter for the inter-component coupling is small and both of them are unstable when the coupling parameter is large. In the marginal case of the discrete two-dimensional Manakov system, the double-charge vortex is stable while the hidden-charge vortex is linearly unstable. Analytical predictions are corroborated with numerical observations that show good agreement near the anti-continuum limit but gradually deviate for larger couplings between the lattice nodes.
We investigate the stability of dark solitons (DSs) in an effectively one-dimensional Bose-Einstein condensate in the presence of the magnetic parabolic trap and an optical lattice (OL). The analysis is based on both the full Gross-Pitaevskii equation and its tight-binding approximation counterpart (discrete nonlinear Schr{ö}dinger equation). We find that DSs are subject to weak instabilities with an onset of instability mainly governed by the period and amplitude of the OL. The instability, if present, sets in at large times and it is characterized by quasi-periodic oscillations of the DS about the minimum of the parabolic trap.
In this paper, we examine in detail the principal branches of solutions that arise in vector discrete models with nonlinear inter-component coupling and four wave mixing. The relevant four branches of solutions consist of two single mode branches (transverse electric and transverse magnetic) and two mixed mode branches, involving both components (linearly polarized and elliptically polarized). These solutions are obtained explicitly and their stability is analyzed completely in the anti-continuum limit (where the nodes of the lattice are uncoupled), illustrating the supercritical pitchfork nature of the bifurcations that give rise to the latter two, respectively, from the former two. Then the branches are continued for finite coupling constructing a full two-parameter numerical bifurcation diagram of their existence. Relevant stability ranges and instability regimes are highlighted and, whenever unstable, the solutions are dynamically evolved through direct computations to monitor the development of the corresponding instabilities. Direct connections to the earlier experimental work of Meier et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 91}, 143907 (2003)] that motivated the present work are given.
We investigate bright matter-wave solitons in the presence of a spatially varying scattering length. It is demonstrated that, even in the absence of any external trapping potential, a soliton can be confined due to the inhomogeneous collisional interactions. Moreover we observe the enhanced transmission of matter-wave solitons through potential barriers for suitably chosen spatial variations of the scattering length. The results indicate that the manipulation of atomic interactions can become a versatile tool to control the dynamics of matter waves.
We illustrate how to compute asymptotic interactions between discrete solitary waves of dispersive equations, using the approach proposed by Manton [Nucl. Phys. B 150, 397 (1979)]. We also discuss the complications arising due to discreteness and showcase the application of the method in nonlinear Schrodinger, as well as in Klein-Gordon lattices, finding excellent agreement with direct numerical computations.
We consider the Gross-Pitaevskii (GP) equation in the presence of periodic and quasiperiodic superlattices to study cigar-shaped Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) in such potentials. We examine spatially extended wavefunctions in the form of modulated amplitude waves (MAWs). With a coherent structure ansatz, we derive amplitude equations describing the evolution of spatially modulated states of the BEC. We then apply second-order multiple scale perturbation theory to study harmonic resonances with respect to a single lattice wavenumber as well as ultrasubharmonic resonances that result from interactions of both wavenumbers of the superlattice. In each case, we determine the resulting system's equilibria, which represent spatially periodic solutions, and subsequently examine the stability of the corresponding solutions by direct simulations of the GP equation, identifying them as typically stable solutions of the model. We then study subharmonic resonances using Hamiltonian perturbation theory, tracing robust, spatio-temporally periodic patterns.
We consider effects of anisotropy on solitons of various types in two-dimensional nonlinear lattices, using the discrete nonlinear Schr{ö}dinger equation as a paradigm model. For fundamental solitons, we develop a variational approximation, which predicts that broad quasi-continuum solitons are unstable, while their strongly anisotropic counterparts are stable. By means of numerical methods, it is found that, in the general case, the fundamental solitons and simplest on-site-centered vortex solitons ("vortex crosses") feature enhanced or reduced stability areas, depending on the strength of the anisotropy. More surprising is the effect of anisotropy on the so-called "super-symmetric" intersite-centered vortices ("vortex squares"), with the topological charge $S$ equal to the square's size $M$: we predict in an analytical form by means of the Lyapunov-Schmidt theory, and confirm by numerical results, that arbitrarily weak anisotropy results in dramatic changes in the stability and dynamics in comparison with the \emph{degenerate}, in this case, isotropic limit.
For the nonlinear Klein-Gordon type models, we describe a general method of discretization in which the static kink can be placed anywhere with respect to the lattice. These discrete models are therefore free of the {\it static} Peierls-Nabarro potential. Previously reported models of this type are shown to belong to a wider class of models derived by means of the proposed method. A relevant physical consequence of our findings is the existence of a wide class of discrete Klein-Gordon models where slow kinks {\it practically} do not experience the action of the Peierls-Nabarro potential. Such kinks are not trapped by the lattice and they can be accelerated by even weak external fields.
We consider nonlinear Klein-Gordon wave equations and illustrate that standard discretizations thereof (involving nearest neighbors) may preserve either standardly defined linear momentum or total energy but not both. This has a variety of intriguing implications for the ``non-potential'' discretizations that preserve only the linear momentum, such as the self-accelerating or self-decelerating motion of coherent structures such as discrete kinks in these nonlinear lattices.