DOI: 10.1209/epl/i2002-00270-x


Europhys. Lett., 60 (3) , pp. 342-348 (2002)

Dynamical transitions in incommensurate systems

L. Consoli, H. Knops and A. Fasolino

Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of Nijmegen Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED Nijmegen, The Netherlands

consoli@sci.kun.nl

(Received 22 November 2001; accepted in final form 19 August 2002)

Abstract
In the dynamics of the undamped Frenkel-Kontorova model with kinetic terms, we find a transition between two regimes, a floating incommensurate and a pinned incommensurate phase. This behavior is compared to the static version of the model. While in the static case the two regimes are separated by a single transition (the Aubry transition), in the dynamical case the transition is characterized by a critical region, in which different phenomena take place at different times. In this paper, the generalized angular momentum we have previously introduced, and the dynamical modulation function are used to begin a characterization of this critical region. We further elucidate the relation between these two quantities, and present preliminary results about the order of the dynamical transition.

PACS
05.45.-a - Nonlinear dynamics and nonlinear dynamical systems.
64.60.Ht - Dynamic critical phenomena.
68.35.-p - Solid surfaces and solid-solid interfaces: Structure and energetics.


© EDP Sciences 2002