Curvature-induced symmetry breaking in nonlinear Schrodinger models
We consider a curved chain of nonlinear oscillators and show that the interplay of curvature and nonlinearity leads to a symmetry breaking when an asymmetric stationary state becomes energetically more favorable than a symmetric stationary state. We show that the energy of localized states decreases with increasing curvature, i.e., bending is a trap for nonlinear excitations. A violation of the Vakhitov-Kolokolov stability criterion is found in the case where the instability is due to the softening of the Peierls internal mode.
Gaididei
YB
Bogolyubov Institute for Theoretical Physics, 03143 Kiev, Ukraine.
Mingaleev
SF
Christiansen
PL