Chopping time of the FPU $\alpha$-model

Abstract

We study, both numerically and analytically, the time needed to observe the breaking of an FPU $\alpha$-chain in two or more pieces, starting from an unbroken configuration at a given temperature. It is found that such a "chopping" time is given by a formula that, at low temperatures, is of the Arrhenius-Kramers form, so that the chain does not break up on an observable time-scale. The result explains why the study of the FPU problem is meaningful also in the ill-posed case of the $\alpha$-model

References in corpus (3)

• The two-stage dynamics in the Fermi-Pasta-Ulam problem: from regular to diffusive behavior
• An averaging theorem for FPU in the thermodynamic limit
• Some analytic results on the FPU paradox

Cited by in corpus (5)

• Relaxation times and ergodicity properties in a realistic ionic--crystal model, and the modern form of the FPU problem
• Dynamical chaos in the integrable Toda chain induced by time discretization
• Structural localization in the Classical and Quantum Fermi-Pasta-Ulam Model
• Universal route to thermalization in weakly-nonlinear one-dimensional chains
• Thermalization in asymmetric harmonic chains