Scaling and the thermal conductivity of the Frenkel-Kontorova model

Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys. 2008 Dec;78(6 Pt 1):061130. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.78.061130. Epub 2008 Dec 29.

Abstract

We have studied the dependence of the thermal conductivity kappa on the strength of the interparticle potential lambda and the strength of the external potential beta in the Frenkel-Kontorova model. We found that the functional relation can be expressed in a scaling form, kappa proportional, variantlambda;{32}/beta;{2} . This result is first obtained by nonequilibrium molecular dynamics. It is then confirmed by two analytical methods, the self-consistent phonon theory and the self-consistent stochastic reservoirs method. The thermal conductivity kappa is therefore a decreasing functon of beta and an increasing function of lambda.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't