Analysis of ballistic transport and resonance in the α-Fermi-Pasta-Ulam-Tsingou model

Ballistic transport and resonance phenomena are elucidated in the one-dimensional alpha-Fermi-Pasta-Ulam-Tsingou (FPUT) model using an approach of computing thermal response functions. The existence of periodic oscillations in spatially sinusoidal temperature profiles seen in previous studies is confirmed. However, the results obtained using response functions enable a more complete understanding. In particular, it is shown that resonance involves beats between normal modes which tend to reinforce in a one-dimensional chain. Anharmonic scattering acts to destroy phase coherence across the statistical ensemble, and with increasing anharmonicity, transport is driven toward the diffusive regime. These results provide additional insight into anomalous heat transport in low-dimensional systems. Normal-mode scattering is also explored using time correlation functions. Interestingly, these calculations, in addition to demonstrating loss of phase coherence across an ensemble of simulations, appear to show evidence of so-called q-breathers in conditions of strong anharmonicity. Finally, we describe how the approach outlined here could be developed to include quantum statistics and also also first-principles estimates of phonon scattering rates to elucidate second sound and ballistic transport in realistic materials at low temperatures.

Automated summary

This study elucidates the ballistic transport and resonance phenomena in the one-dimensional FPUT model using thermal response functions. The results confirm the existence of periodic oscillations in temperature profiles and demonstrate that resonance involves beats between normal modes. Anharmonic scattering destroys phase coherence, leading to transport towards the diffusive regime. These findings provide new insights into heat transport in low-dimensional systems.