Soliton resonances in atomic nonlinear systems (Q1088260)

For competitive first and second neighbor interactions in a monatomic chain there are subsonic solitons which are unstable at low velocities and resonantly split in two stable solitons with high velocities. The process is consistent with the conservation laws, which are exactly satisfied by the splitting process. There are also divergent instabilities. The effect of the second neighbor nonlinear interactions on the threshold velocities for resonant or divergent instabilities is studied. The collision of two solitons near resonance shows large phase shifts but due to the existence of a linear instability mode the solitons separate eventually. The effect of the form of the interatomic law is also discussed.