The Discrete Nonlinear Schr\"odinger equation - 20 Years on

We review work on the Discrete Nonlinear Schr\"odinger (DNLS) equation over the last two decades.Comment: 24 pages, 1 figure, Proceedings of the conference on "Localization and Energy Transfer in Nonlinear Systems", June 17-21, 2002, San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Madrid, Spain; to be published by World Scientifi

Nonlinear oscillator with power-form elastic-term: Fourier series expansion of the exact solution

A family of conservative, truly nonlinear, oscillators with integer or non-integer order nonlinearity is considered. These oscillators have only one odd power-form elastic-term and exact expressions for their period and solution were found in terms of Gamma functions and a cosine-Ateb function, respectively. Only for a few values of the order of nonlinearity, is it possible to obtain the periodic solution in terms of more common functions. However, for this family of conservative truly nonlinear oscillators we show in this paper that it is possible to obtain the Fourier series expansion of the exact solution, even though this exact solution is unknown. The coefficients of the Fourier series expansion of the exact solution are obtained as an integral expression in which a regularized incomplete Beta function appears. These coefficients are a function of the order of nonlinearity only and are computed numerically. One application of this technique is to compare the amplitudes for the different harmonics of the solution obtained using approximate methods with the exact ones computed numerically as shown in this paper. As an example, the approximate amplitudes obtained via a modified Ritz method are compared with the exact ones computed numerically.This work was supported by the “Generalitat Valenciana” of Spain, under projects PROMETEO/2011/021 and ISIC/2012/013, and by the “Vicerrectorado de Tecnologías de la Información” of the University of Alicante, Spain, under project GITE-09006-UA

Discrete scale invariance and complex dimensions

We discuss the concept of discrete scale invariance and how it leads to complex critical exponents (or dimensions), i.e. to the log-periodic corrections to scaling. After their initial suggestion as formal solutions of renormalization group equations in the seventies, complex exponents have been studied in the eighties in relation to various problems of physics embedded in hierarchical systems. Only recently has it been realized that discrete scale invariance and its associated complex exponents may appear ``spontaneously'' in euclidean systems, i.e. without the need for a pre-existing hierarchy. Examples are diffusion-limited-aggregation clusters, rupture in heterogeneous systems, earthquakes, animals (a generalization of percolation) among many other systems. We review the known mechanisms for the spontaneous generation of discrete scale invariance and provide an extensive list of situations where complex exponents have been found. This is done in order to provide a basis for a better fundamental understanding of discrete scale invariance. The main motivation to study discrete scale invariance and its signatures is that it provides new insights in the underlying mechanisms of scale invariance. It may also be very interesting for prediction purposes.Comment: significantly extended version (Oct. 27, 1998) with new examples in several domains of the review paper with the same title published in Physics Reports 297, 239-270 (1998

The Response Frequency Conversion Characteristic of a Nonlinear Curved Panel with a Centre Mass and the Sound Radiations

This study investigates the response frequency conversion characteristic of a nonlinear curved panel mounted with a centre mass and the sound radiations. A set of coupled governing differential equations is set up and used to generate the nonlinear vibration responses, which are used to calculate the corresponding radiated sounds. The vibration, sound levels, and the ratio of the antisymmetrical to symmetrical mode responses are plotted against the excitation level and compared with a set of experimental data. The frequency conversion characteristic is investigated from the frequency spectrums of the vibration responses

Wave interactions in localizing media - a coin with many faces

A variety of heterogeneous potentials are capable of localizing linear non-interacting waves. In this work, we review different examples of heterogeneous localizing potentials which were realized in experiments. We then discuss the impact of nonlinearity induced by wave interactions, in particular its destructive effect on the localizing properties of the heterogeneous potentials.Comment: Review submitted to Intl. Journal of Bifurcation and Chaos Special Issue edited by G. Nicolis, M. Robnik, V. Rothos and Ch. Skokos 21 Pages, 8 Figure

Wannier-Stark resonances in optical and semiconductor superlattices

In this work, we discuss the resonance states of a quantum particle in a periodic potential plus a static force. Originally this problem was formulated for a crystal electron subject to a static electric field and it is nowadays known as the Wannier-Stark problem. We describe a novel approach to the Wannier-Stark problem developed in recent years. This approach allows to compute the complex energy spectrum of a Wannier-Stark system as the poles of a rigorously constructed scattering matrix and solves the Wannier-Stark problem without any approximation. The suggested method is very efficient from the numerical point of view and has proven to be a powerful analytic tool for Wannier-Stark resonances appearing in different physical systems such as optical lattices or semiconductor superlattices.Comment: 94 pages, 41 figures, typos corrected, references adde

The point charge oscillator: Qualitative and analytical investigations

We determine the global phase portrait of a mathematical model describing the point charge oscillator. It shows that the family of closed orbits describing the point charge oscillations has two envelopes: an equilibrium point and a homoclinic orbit to an equilibrium point at infinity. We derive an expression for the growth rate of the primitive perod Τα of the oscillation with the amplitude α as α tends to infinity. Finally, we determine an exact relation between period and amplitude by means of the Jacobi elliptic function cn

On the statistical mechanics of structural vibration

The analysis of the structural dynamics of a complex engineering structure has much in common with the subject of statistical mechanics. Both are concerned with the analysis of large systems in the presence of various sources of randomness, and both are concerned with the possibility of emergent laws that might be used to provide a simplified approach to the analysis of the system. The aim of the present work is to apply a number of the concepts of statistical mechanics to structural dynamic systems in order to provide new insights into the system behaviour under various conditions. The work is foundational, in that it is based on employing the fundamental equations of motion of the system in conjunction with various definitions of entropy, and no recourse is made to emergent laws that are accepted in thermodynamics. The analysis covers closed (undamped and unforced) and open (forced and damped) systems, linear and nonlinear systems, and both single systems and coupled systems. The fact that the system itself can be random leads to a number of results that differ from those found in classical statistical mechanics, where the initial conditions might be considered to be random but the Hamiltonian is taken to be well defined. For example, the occurrence of a stationary state in a closed system normally requires nonlinearity and coarse-graining of the statistical distribution, but neither condition is required for a random system. For coupled systems it is shown that under certain conditions both Statistical Energy Analysis (SEA) and Transient Statistical Energy Analysis (TSEA) are emergent laws, and insights are gained as to the validity of these laws. The analysis is supported by a number of numerical examples to illustrate key points