Transition from Solitons to Solitary Waves in the Fermi-Pasta-Ulam Lattice

Abstract

In this paper, we study the smooth transition from solitons to solitary waves in localization, relation between energy and velocity, propagation and scattering property in the Fermi-Pasta-Ulam lattice analytically and numerically. A soliton is a very stable solitary wave that retains its permanent structure after interacting with other solitary waves. A soliton exists when the energy is small, and it becomes a solitary wave when the energy increases to the threshold. The transition could help to understand the distinctly different heat conduction behaviors of the Fermi-Pasta-Ulam lattice at low and high temperature.