Breathers and Kinks in FPU lattices
Abstract
The FPU lattice is a coupled system of ordinary differential equations in which each atom in a chain is coupled to its nearest neighbour by way of a nonlinear spring.
After summarising the properties of travelling waves (kinks) we use asymptotic analysis to describe more complicate envelope solutions (breathers). The interaction of breathers and kinks will then be analysed. If time permits, the method will be extended to two-dimensional lattices.