Complex mode dynamics of coupled wave oscillators.
We explore how nonlinear coherent waves localized in a few wells of a periodic potential can act analogously to a chain of coupled oscillators. We identify the small-amplitude oscillation modes of these "coupled wave oscillators" and find that they can be extended into the large amplitude regime, where some "ring" for long times. We also reveal the appearance of complex behavior such as the breakdown of Josephson-like oscillations, the destabilization of fundamental oscillation modes, and the emergence of chaotic oscillations for large amplitude excitations. We show that the dynamics may be accurately described by a discrete model with nearest-neighbor coupling, in which the lattice oscillators bear an effective mass.
School of Physical, Environmental and Mathematical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Canberra, Australia 2600.
T J
TJ
Alexander
Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003-4515, USA.
D
D
Yan
Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003-4515, USA.
P G
PG
Kevrekidis