Dynamic interaction of a semi-infinite linear chain of coupled oscillators with a strongly nonlinear end attachment (Q1860891)

The authors study the dynamic interaction in a semi-infinite linear chain of interconnected oscillators that is weakly coupled at its end to a nonlinear oscillator with essential stiffness nonlinearity. Namely, the authors analyze families of localized standing waves situated inside the lower or upper attenuation zones of the linear chain, corresponding to energy predominantly confined in the nonlinear oscillator. These families of localized modes can be regarded as ``infinite analogs'' of localized modes of the corresponding finite systems. The excitation of these localized modes gives rise to energy pumping phenomena in finite systems. In the infinite systems, the field acts as effective energy dissipater, ``absorbing'' irreversibly energy in the form of traveling waves away from the nonlinear attachment. In such systems energy pumping towards the nonlinear attachment can occur even in the absence of physical dissipation.