arXiv subjects

Panayotis G. Kevrekidis

Publications and source records attributed to Panayotis G. Kevrekidis.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

arXiv2018

Origami-based impact mitigation via rarefaction solitary wave creation

The principles underlying the art of origami paper folding can be applied to design sophisticated metamaterials with unique mechanical properties. By exploiting the flat crease patterns that determine the dynamic folding and unfolding motion of origami, we are able to design an origami-based metamaterial that can form rarefaction solitary waves. Our analytical, numerical and experimental results demonstrate that this rarefaction solitary wave overtakes initial compressive strain waves, thereby causing the latter part of the structure to feel tension first instead of compression. This counter-intuitive dynamic mechanism can be used to create a highly efficient--yet reusable--impact mitigating system without relying on material damping, plasticity or fracture.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2017

An energy-based stability criterion for solitary traveling waves in Hamiltonian lattices

In this work, we revisit a criterion, originally proposed in [Nonlinearity {\bf 17}, 207 (2004)], for the stability of solitary traveling waves in Hamiltonian, infinite-dimensional lattice dynamical systems. We discuss the implications of this criterion from the point of view of stability theory, both at the level of the spectral analysis of the advance-delay differential equations in the co-traveling frame, as well as at that of the Floquet problem arising when considering the traveling wave as a periodic orbit modulo a shift. We establish the correspondence of these perspectives for the pertinent eigenvalue and Floquet multiplier and provide explicit expressions for their dependence on the velocity of the traveling wave in the vicinity of the critical point. Numerical results are used to corroborate the relevant predictions in two different models, where the stability may change twice. Some extensions, generalizations and future directions of this investigation are also discussed.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2017

Transverse instabilities of stripe domains in magnetic thin films with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy

Stripe domains are narrow, elongated, reversed regions that exist in magnetic materials with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. Stripe domains appear as a pair of domain walls that can exhibit topology with a nonzero chirality. Recent experimental and numerical investigations identify an instability of stripe domains in the long direction as a means of nucleating isolated magnetic skyrmions. Here, the onset and nonlinear evolution of transverse instabilities for a dynamic stripe domain known as the bion stripe are investigated. Both non-topological and topological variants of the bion stripe are shown to exhibit a long-wavelength transverse instability with different characteristic features. In the former, small transverse variations in the stripe's width lead to a neck instability that eventually pinches the non-topological stripe into a chain of two-dimensional breathers composed of droplet soliton pairs. In the latter case, small variations in the stripe's center results in a snake instability whose topological structure leads to the nucleation of dynamic magnetic skyrmions and antiskyrmions as well as perimeter-modulated droplets. Quantitative, analytical predictions for both the early, linear evolution and the long-time, nonlinear evolution are achieved using an averaged Lagrangian approach that incorporates both exchange (dispersion) and anisotropy (nonlinearity). The method of analysis is general and can be applied to other filamentary structures.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2017

Multi-vortex crystal lattices in Bose-Einstein Condensates with a rotating trap

We consider vortex dynamics in the context of Bose-Einstein Condensates (BEC) with a rotating trap, with or without anisotropy. Starting with the Gross-Pitaevskii (GP) partial differential equation (PDE), we derive a novel reduced system of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) that describes stable configurations of multiple co-rotating vortices (vortex crystals). This description is found to be quite accurate quantitatively especially in the case of multiple vortices. In the limit of many vortices, BECs are known to form vortex crystal structures, whereby vortices tend to arrange themselves in a hexagonal-like spatial configuration. Using our asymptotic reduction, we derive the effective vortex crystal density and its radius. We also obtain an asymptotic estimate for the maximum number of vortices as a function of rotation rate. We extend considerations to the anisotropic trap case, confirming that a pair of vortices lying on the long (short) axis is linearly stable (unstable), corroborating the ODE reduction results with full PDE simulations. We then further investigate the many-vortex limit in the case of strong anisotropic potential. In this limit, the vortices tend to align themselves along the long axis, and we compute the effective one-dimensional vortex density, as well as the maximum admissible number of vortices. Detailed numerical simulations of the GP equation are used to confirm our analytical predictions.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2017

Demonstrating an in-situ topological band transition in cylindrical granular chains

We numerically investigate and experimentally demonstrate an in-situ topological band transition in a highly tunable mechanical system made of cylindrical granular particles. This system allows us to tune its inter-particle stiffness in a controllable way, simply by changing the contact angles between the cylinders. The spatial variation of particles' stiffness results in an in-situ transition of the system's topology. This manifests as the emergence of a boundary mode in the finite system, which we observe experimentally via laser Doppler vibrometry. When two topologically different systems are placed adjacently, we analytically predict and computationally and experimentally demonstrate the existence of a finite-frequency topologically protected mode at their interface.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2016

Shock and Rarefaction Waves in Generalized Hertzian Contact Models

In the present work motivated by generalized forms of the Hertzian dynamics associated with granular crystals, we consider the possibility of such models to give rise to both shock and rarefaction waves. Depending on the value $p$ of the nonlinearity exponent, we find that both of these possibilities are realizable. We use a quasi-continuum approximation of a generalized inviscid Burgers model in order to predict the solution profile up to times near the shock formation, as well as to estimate when it will occur. Beyond that time threshold, oscillations associated with the discrete nature of the underlying model emerge that cannot be captured by the quasi-continuum approximation. Our analytical characterization of the above features is complemented by systematic numerical computations.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2016

Resonant interaction of $ϕ^4$ kink with spatially periodic $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric perturbation

The resonant interaction of the $ϕ^4$ kink with a periodic $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric perturbation is observed in the frame of the continuum model and with the help of a two degree of freedom collective variable model derived in PRA 89, 010102(R). When the kink interacts with the perturbation, the kink's internal mode is excited with the amplitude varying in time quasiperiodically. The maximal value of the amplitude was found to grow when the kink velocity is such that it travels one period of perturbation is nearly one period of the kink's internal mode. It is also found that the kink's translational and vibrational modes are coupled in a way that an increase in the kink's internal mode amplitude results in a decrease in kink velocity. The results obtained with the collective variable method are in a good qualitative agreement with the numerical simulations for the continuum model. The results of the present study suggest that kink dynamics in open systems with balanced gain and loss can have new features in comparison with the case of conservative systems.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2016

Light dynamics in nonlinear trimers and twisted multicore fibers

Novel photonic structures such as multi-core fibers and graphene based arrays present unique opportunities to manipulate and control the propagation of light. Here we discuss nonlinear dynamics for structures with a few (2 to 6) elements for which linear and nonlinear properties can be tuned. Specifically we show how nonlinearity, coupling, and parity-time PT symmetric gain/loss relate to existence, stability and in general, dynamical properties of nonlinear optical modes. The main emphasis of our presentation will be on systems with few degrees of freedom, most notably couplers, trimers and generalizations thereof to systems with 6 nodes.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2016

Performing Hong-Ou-Mandel-type Numerical Experiments with Repulsive Condensates: The case of Dark and Dark-bright Solitons

The Hong-Ou-Mandel experiment leads indistinguishable photons simultaneously reaching a 50:50 beam splitter to emerge on the same port through two-photon interference. Motivated by this phenomenon, we consider numerical experiments of the same flavor for classical, {\it wave} objects in the setting of repulsive condensates. We examine dark solitons interacting with a repulsive barrier, a case in which we find no significant asymmetries in the emerging waves after the collision, presumably due to their topological nature. We also consider case examples of two-component systems, where the dark solitons trap a bright structure in the second-component (dark-bright solitary waves). For these, pronounced asymmetries upon collision {\it are} possible for the non-topological bright component. We also show an example of a similar phenomenology for ring dark-bright structures in two dimensions.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2016

Energy criterion for the spectral stability of discrete breathers

Discrete breathers are ubiquitous structures in nonlinear anharmonic models ranging from the prototypical example of the Fermi-Pasta-Ulam model to Klein-Gordon nonlinear lattices, among many others. We propose a general criterion for the emergence of instabilities of discrete breathers analogous to the well-established Vakhitov-Kolokolov criterion for solitary waves. The criterion involves the change of monotonicity of the discrete breather's energy as a function of the breather frequency. Our analysis suggests and numerical results corroborate that breathers with increasing (decreasing) energy-frequency dependence are generically unstable in soft (hard) nonlinear potentials.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2016

Existence, Stability and Dynamics of Harmonically Trapped One-Dimensional Multi-Component Solitary Waves: The Near-Linear Limit

In the present work, we consider a variety of two-component, one-dimensional states in nonlinear Schrodinger equations in the presence of a parabolic trap, inspired by the atomic physics context of Bose-Einstein condensates. The use of Lyapunov-Schmidt reduction methods allows us to identify persistence criteria for the different families of solutions which we classify as (m,n), in accordance with the number of nodes in each component. Upon developing the existence theory, we turn to a stability analysis of the different configurations, using the Krein signature and the Hamiltonian-Krein index as topological tools identifying the number of potentially unstable eigendirections for each branch. A systematic expansion of suitably reduced eigenvalue problems when perturbing off of the linear limit permits us to obtain explicit expressions for the eigenvalues of each of the states considered. Finally, when the states are found to be unstable, typically by virtue of Hamiltonian Hopf bifurcations, their dynamics is studied in order to identify the nature of the respective instability. The dynamics is generally found to lead to a vibrational evolution over long time scales.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2016

Experimental Study of Nonlinear Resonances and Anti-resonances in a Forced, Ordered Granular Chain

We experimentally study a one-dimensional uncompressed granular chain composed of a finite number of identical spherical beads with Hertzian interactions. The chain is harmonically excited by an amplitude- and frequency-dependent boundary drive at its left end and has a fixed boundary at its right end. Such ordered granular media represent an interesting new class of nonlinear acoustic metamaterials, since they exhibit essentially nonlinear acoustics and have been designated as 'sonic vacua' due to the fact that their corresponding speed of sound (as defined in classical acoustics) is zero.This paves the way for essentially nonlinear and energy-dependent acoustics with no counterparts in linear theory. We experimentally detect time-periodic, strongly nonlinear resonances whereby the particles (beads) of the granular chain respond at integer multiples of the excitation period, and which correspond to local peaks of the maximum transmitted force at the chain's right, fixed end.In between these resonances we detect a local minimum of the maximum transmitted forces corresponding to an anti-resonance in the stationary-state dynamics. The experimental results of this work confirm previous theoretical predictions, and verify the existence of strongly nonlinear resonance responses in a system with a complete absence of any linear spectrum; as such, the experimentally detected nonlinear resonance spectrum is passively tunable with energy and sensitive to dissipative effects such as internal structural damping in the beads, and friction or plasticity effects. The experimental results are verified by direct numerical simulations and by numerical stability analysis.

math.DS↗

arXiv2015

Existence and stability of PT-symmetric vortices in nonlinear two-dimensional square lattices

Vortices symmetric with respect to simultaneous parity and time reversing transformations are considered on the square lattice in the framework of the discrete nonlinear Schrödinger equation. The existence and stability of vortex configurations is analyzed in the limit of weak coupling between the lattice sites, when predictions on the elementary cell of a square lattice (i.e., a single square) can be extended to a large (yet finite) array of lattice cells. Our analytical predictions are found to be in good agreement with numerical computations.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2015

Solitary waves of a PT-symmetric Nonlinear Dirac equation

In the present work, we consider a prototypical example of a PT-symmetric Dirac model. We discuss the underlying linear limit of the model and identify the threshold of the PT-phase transition in an analytical form. We then focus on the examination of the nonlinear model. We consider the continuation in the PT-symmetric model of the solutions of the corresponding Hamiltonian model and find that the solutions can be continued robustly as stable ones all the way up to the PT-transition threshold. In the latter, they degenerate into linear waves. We also examine the dynamics of the model. Given the stability of the waveforms in the PT-exact phase we consider them as initial conditions for parameters outside of that phase. We find that both oscillatory dynamics and exponential growth may arise, depending on the size of the corresponding "quench". The former can be characterized by an interesting form of bi-frequency solutions that have been predicted on the basis of the SU(1,1) symmetry. Finally, we explore some special, analytically tractable, but not PT-symmetric solutions in the massless limit of the model.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2015

Weakly Nonlinear Analysis of Vortex Formation in a Dissipative Variant of the Gross-Pitaevskii Equation

For a dissipative variant of the two-dimensional Gross-Pitaevskii equation with a parabolic trap under rotation, we study a symmetry breaking process that leads to the formation of vortices. The first symmetry breaking leads to the formation of many small vortices distributed uniformly near the Thomas-Fermi radius. The instability occurs as a result of a linear instability of a vortex-free steady state as the rotation is increased above a critical threshold. We focus on the second subsequent symmetry breaking, which occurs in the weakly nonlinear regime. At slightly above threshold, we derive a one-dimensional amplitude equation that describes the slow evolution of the envelope of the initial instability. We show that the mechanism responsible for initiating vortex formation is a modulational instability of the amplitude equation. We also illustrate the role of dissipation in the symmetry breaking process. All analyses are confirmed by detailed numerical computations.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2015

High energy density in multi-soliton collisions

Solitons are very effective in transporting energy over great distances and collisions between them can produce high energy density spots of relevance to phase transformations, energy localization and defect formation among others. It is then important to study how energy density accumulation scales in multi-soliton collisions. In this study, we demonstrate that the maximal energy density that can be achieved in collision of $N$ slowly moving kinks and antikinks in the integrable sine-Gordon field, remarkably, is proportional to $N^2$, while the total energy of the system is proportional to $N$. This maximal energy density can be achieved only if the difference between the number of colliding kinks and antikinks is minimal, i.e., is equal to 0 for even $N$ and 1 for odd $N$ and if the pattern involves an alternating array of kinks and anti-kinks. Interestingly, for odd (even) $N$ the maximal energy density appears in the form of potential (kinetic) energy, while kinetic (potential) energy is equal to zero. The results of the present study rely on the analysis of the exact multi-soliton solutions for $N=1,2,$ and 3 and on the numerical simulation results for $N=4,5,6,$ and 7. Based on these results one can speculate that the soliton collisions in the sine-Gordon field can, in principle, controllably produce very high energy density. This can have important consequences for many physical phenomena described by the Klein-Gordon equations.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2015

Formation of rarefaction waves in origami-based metamaterials

We investigate the nonlinear wave dynamics of origami-based metamaterials composed of Tachi-Miura polyhedron (TMP) unit cells. These cells exhibit strain softening behavior under compression, which can be tuned by modifying their geometrical configurations or initial folded conditions. We assemble these TMP cells into a cluster of origami-based metamaterials, and we theoretically model and numerically analyze their wave transmission mechanism under external impact. Numerical simulations show that origami-based metamaterials can provide a prototypical platform for the formation of nonlinear coherent structures in the form of rarefaction waves, which feature a tensile wavefront upon the application of compression to the system. We also demonstrate the existence of numerically exact traveling rarefaction waves. Origami-based metamaterials can be highly useful for mitigating shock waves, potentially enabling a wide variety of engineering applications.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2015

Nonlinear instabilities of multi-site breathers in Klein-Gordon lattices

In the present work, we explore the possibility of excited breather states in a nonlinear Klein--Gordon lattice to become nonlinearly unstable, even if they are found to be spectrally stable. The mechanism for this fundamentally nonlinear instability is through the resonance with the wave continuum of a multiple of an internal mode eigenfrequency in the linearization of excited breather states. For the nonlinear instability, the internal mode must have its Krein signature opposite to that of the wave continuum. This mechanism is not only theoretically proposed, but also numerically corroborated through two concrete examples of the Klein--Gordon lattice with a soft (Morse) and a hard ($ϕ^4$) potential. Compared to the case of the nonlinear Schr{ö}dinger lattice, the Krein signature of the internal mode relative to that of the wave continuum may change depending on the period of the excited breather state. For the periods for which the Krein signatures of the internal mode and the wave continuum coincide, excited breather states are observed to be nonlinearly stable.

nlin.PS↗