Wave self-focusing in molecular systems subject to thermal effects, such as
thin molecular films and long biomolecules, can be modeled by stochastic
versions of the Discrete Self-Trapping equation of Eilbeck, Lomdahl and Scott,
and this can be approximated by continuum limits in the form of stochastic
nonlinear Schroedinger equations.
Previous studies directed at the SNLS approximations have indicated that the
self-focusing of wave energy to highly localized states can be inhibited by
phase noise (modeling thermal effects) and can be restored by phase damping
(modeling heat radiation).
We show that the continuum limit is probably ill-posed in the presence of
spatially uncorrelated noise, at least with little or no damping, so that
discrete models need to be addressed directly. Also, as has been noted by other
authors, omission of damping produces highly unphysical results.
Numerical results are presented for the first time for the discrete models
including the highly nonlinear damping term, and new numerical methods are
introduced for this purpose. Previous conjectures are in general confirmed, and
the damping is shown to strongly stabilize the highly localized states of the
discrete models. It appears that the previously noted inhibition of nonlinear
wave phenomena by noise is an artifact of modeling that includes the effects of
heat, but not of heat loss.Comment: 22 pages, 13 figures, revision of talk at FPU+50 conference in Rouen,
June 200