Universal behavior of Lyapunov exponents in unstable systems

Spin Quantization in Heavy Ion Collision

We analyzed recent experimental data on the disassembly of 28Si into 7α in terms of a hybrid α-cluster model. We calculated the probability of breaking into several α-like fragments for high l-spin values for identical and non-identical spin zero nuclei. Resonant energies were found for each l-value and compared to the data and other theoretical models. Toroidal-like structures were revealed in coordinate and momentum space when averaging over many events at high l. The transition from quantum to classical mechanics is highlighted.

Critical fluctuations and slowing down of chaos

Fluids cooled to the liquid–vapor critical point develop system-spanning fluctuations in density that transform their visual appearance. Despite a rich phenomenology, however, there is not currently an explanation of the mechanical instability in the molecular motion at this critical point. Here, we couple techniques from nonlinear dynamics and statistical physics to analyze the emergence of this singular state. Numerical simulations and analytical models show how the ordering mechanisms of critical dynamics are measurable through the hierarchy of spatiotemporal Lyapunov vectors. A subset of unstable vectors soften near the critical point, with a marked suppression in their characteristic exponents that reflects a weakened sensitivity to initial conditions. Finite-time fluctuations in these exponents exhibit sharply peaked dynamical timescales and power law signatures of the critical dynamics. Collectively, these results are symptomatic of a critical slowing down of chaos that sits at the root of our statistical understanding of the liquid–vapor critical point.

It is well known that fluids become opaque at the liquid–vapor critical point, but a description of the underlying mechanical instability is still missing. Das and Green leverage nonlinear dynamics to quantify the role of chaos in the emergence of this critical phenomenon.

Lyapunov Spectra of Coulombic and Gravitational Periodic Systems

An open question in nonlinear dynamics is the relation between the Kolmogorov entropy and the largest Lyapunov exponent of a given orbit. Both have been shown to have diagnostic capability for phase transitions in thermodynamic systems. For systems with long-range interactions, the choice of boundary plays a critical role and appropriate boundary conditions must be invoked. In this work, we compute Lyapunov spectra for Coulombic and gravitational versions of the one-dimensional systems of parallel sheets with periodic boundary conditions. Exact expressions for time evolution of the tangent-space vectors are derived and are utilized toward computing Lypaunov characteristic exponents using an event-driven algorithm. The results indicate that the energy dependence of the largest Lyapunov exponent emulates that of Kolmogorov entropy for each system for a given system size. Our approach forms an effective and approximation-free instrument for studying the dynamical properties exhibited by the Coulombic and gravitational systems and finds applications in investigating indications of thermodynamic transitions in small as well as large versions of the spatially periodic systems. When a phase transition exists, we find that the largest Lyapunov exponent serves as a precursor of the transition that becomes more pronounced as the system size increases.

Thermodynamics of a one-dimensional self-gravitating gas with periodic boundary conditions

We study the thermodynamic properties of a one-dimensional gas with one-dimensional gravitational interactions. Periodic boundary conditions are implemented as a modification of the potential consisting of a sum over mirror images (Ewald sum), regularized with an exponential cutoff. As a consequence, each particle carries with it its own background density. Using mean-field theory, we show that the system has a phase transition at a critical temperature. Above the critical temperature the gas density is uniform, while below the critical point the system becomes inhomogeneous. Numerical simulations of the model, which include the caloric curve, the equation of state, the radial distribution function, and the largest Lyapunov exponent, confirm the existence of the phase transition, and they are in good agreement with the theoretical predictions.

Chaotic dynamics of one-dimensional systems with periodic boundary conditions

We provide appropriate tools for the analysis of dynamics and chaos for one-dimensional systems with periodic boundary conditions. Our approach allows for the investigation of the dependence of the largest Lyapunov exponent on various initial conditions of the system. The method employs an effective approach for defining the phase-space distance appropriate for systems with periodic boundaries and allows for an unambiguous test-orbit rescaling in the phase space required to calculate the Lyapunov exponents. We elucidate our technique by applying it to investigate the chaotic dynamics of a one-dimensional plasma with periodic boundaries. Exact analytic expressions are derived for the electric field and potential using Ewald sums, thereby making it possible to follow the time evolution of the plasma in simulations without any special treatment of the boundary. By employing a set of event-driven algorithms, we calculate the largest Lyapunov exponent, the radial distribution function, and the pressure by following the evolution of the system in phase space without resorting to numerical manipulation of the equations of motion. Simulation results are presented and analyzed for the one-dimensional plasma with a view to examining the dynamical and chaotic behavior exhibited by small and large versions of the system.

Role of inertial forces on the chaotic dynamics of flexible rotating bodies

The nonlinear dynamics of isolated flexible but rotating many-body atomic systems is theoretically investigated, following the dependence on initial conditions through Lyapunov exponents. The tangent-space equations of motion that rule the time evolution of such small perturbations are rewritten in the rotating reference frame, and the various contributions of the centrifugal, Coriolis, and Euler forces are determined. Evaluating the largest Lyapunov in the rotating frame under various approximations, we show on the example of Lennard-Jones clusters that the dynamics in phase space is qualitatively at variance with the effective dynamics on the centrifugal energy surface. Coupling terms between positions and momenta in phase space, especially arising from the Coriolis force, are essential to recover the measure of chaos in the fixed reference frame.

Local (in time) maximal lyapunov exponents of fragmenting drops

We analyze the dynamics of fragment formation in simulations of exploding three-dimensional Lennard-Jones hot drops, using the maximum local (in time) Lyapunov exponent (MLLE). The dependence of this exponent on the excitation energy of the system displays two different behaviors according to the stage of the dynamical evolution: one related to the highly collisional stage of the evolution, at early times, and the other related to the asymptotic state. We show that in the early, highly collisional, stage of the evolution the MLLE is an increasing function of the energy, as in an infinite-size system. On the other hand, at long times, the MLLE displays a maximum, depending mainly on the size of the resulting biggest fragment. We compare the time scale at which the MLLE's reach their asymptotic values with the characteristic time of fragment formation in phase space. Moreover, upon calculation of the maximum Lyapunov exponent (MLE) of the resulting fragments, we show that their dependence with the mass can be traced to bulk effects plus surface corrections. Using this information the asymptotic behavior of the MLLE can be understood and the fluctuations of the MLE of the whole system can be easily calculated. These fluctuations display a sudden increase for that excitation energy which produces a power-law-like asymptotic distribution of fragments.

Hamiltonian dynamics and geometry of phase transitions in classical XY models

The Hamiltonian dynamics associated with classical, planar, Heisenberg XY models is investigated for two- and three-dimensional lattices. In addition to the conventional signatures of phase transitions, here obtained through time averages of thermodynamical observables in place of ensemble averages, qualitatively different information is derived from the temperature dependence of Lyapunov exponents. A Riemannian geometrization of Newtonian dynamics suggests consideration of other observables of geometric meaning tightly related to the largest Lyapunov exponent. The numerical computation of these observables--unusual in the study of phase transitions--sheds light on the microscopic dynamical counterpart of thermodynamics, also pointing to the existence of some major change in the geometry of the mechanical manifolds at the thermodynamical transition. Through the microcanonical definition of the entropy, a relationship between thermodynamics and the extrinsic geometry of the constant energy surfaces sigma E of phase space can be naturally established. In this framework, an approximate formula is worked out determining a highly nontrivial relationship between temperature and topology of sigma E. From this it can be understood that the appearance of a phase transition must be tightly related to a suitable major topology change of sigma E. This contributes to the understanding of the origin of phase transitions in the microcanonical ensemble.

Largest Lyapunov exponent in molecular systems. II: Quaternion coordinates and application to methane clusters

We present a numerical procedure for extracting Lyapunov characteristic exponents from classical molecular-dynamics simulations of molecular systems. The theoretical frame chosen to describe the orientational degrees of freedom is the quaternions scheme. We apply the method to small methane clusters. Two different model potentials are used to investigate the role of internal molecular motion on the nonlinear dynamics, and several parameters are calculated to study the thermodynamics and chaotic dynamics of these clusters. Evidence is found for a solidlike to plasticlike phase transition occurring with the release of the orientational degrees of freedom, at low temperatures below the melting point. The largest Lyapunov exponent increases significantly during this transition, but it exhibits no particular variation during melting.

Lyapunov exponents in unstable systems

We investigate the dynamical behavior of unstable systems in the vicinity of the critical point associated with a liquid-gas phase transition. By considering a mean-field treatment, we first perform a linear analysis and discuss the instability growth times. Then, coming to complete Vlasov simulations, we investigate the role of nonlinear effects and calculate the Lyapunov exponents. As a main result, we find that near the critical point, the Lyapunov exponents exhibit a power-law behavior, with a critical exponent beta=0.5. This suggests that in thermodynamical systems the Lyapunov exponent behaves as an order parameter to signal the transition from the liquid to the gas phase.