Interaction of phonons with discrete breathers in one-dimensional chain with tunable type of anharmonicity

Abstract

In this paper, we consider the interaction of small amplitude waves (phonons) with standing discrete breather (DB) in the one-dimensional chain of harmonically coupled particles interacting with the anharmonic one-site potential, which can be of hard-type or soft-type anharmonicity. The coefficients of phonon reflection and transmission are calculated numerically. It is found that for the case of hard-type anharmonicity (soft-type anharmonicity) DBs are more transparent for short-wavelength (long-wavelength) phonon waves, while they efficiently reflect long-wavelength (short-wavelength) phonons. In thermal equilibrium, when all phonons have equal energy density, it is found that for the same width of the transparency window, DB transmits less energy in the case of the hard-type anharmonicity. This is so because, in this case, DB reflects long-wavelength phonons, which have larger group velocity and hence greater contribution to the net energy flux through the DB. In this sense, DBs more efficiently suppress thermal conductivity in the chain with hard-type anharmonicity. Our results contribute to a better understanding of the role of discrete breathers in the heat flow in nonlinear chains.