Nonlinear normal mode solutions of the β-FPUT chain with fixed boundaries are presented in terms of the Jacobi sn function. Exact solutions for the two particle chain are found for arbitrary linear and nonlinear coupling strengths. Solutions for the N-body chain are found for purely nonlinear couplings. Three distinct solution types presented: a linear analogue, a chaotic amplitude mapping, and a localized nonlinear mode. The relaxation of perturbed modes are also explored using l1-regularized least squares regression to estimate the free energy functional near the nonlinear normal mode solution. The perturbed modes are observed to decay sigmoidally towards a quasi-equilibrium state and a logarithmic relationship between the perturbation strength and mode lifetime is found.

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Obtaining a detailed understanding of the physical interactions between a cell and its environment often requires information about the flow of fluid surrounding the cell. Cells must be able to effectively absorb and discard material in order to survive. Strategies for nutrient acquisition and toxin disposal, which have been evolutionarily selected for their efficacy, should reflect knowledge of the physics underlying this mass transport problem. Motivated by these considerations, in this paper we discuss the results from an undergraduate research project on the advection-diffusion equation at small Reynolds number and large Péclet number. In particular, we consider the problem of mass transport for a Stokesian spherical swimmer. We approach the problem numerically and analytically through a rescaling of the concentration boundary layer. A biophysically motivated first-passage problem for the absorption of material by the swimming cell demonstrates quantitative agreement between the numerical and analytical approaches. We conclude by discussing the connections between our results and the design of smart toxin disposal systems.

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