Chaos in Classical Nonlinear Fields
Abstract
Chaotic behavior is studied in a high-dimensional periodic lattice version of the classical Hamiltonian phi-four field theory. Both single and double well potentials were considered. Examined is the existence of a global stochasticity threshold that varied with energy and initial conditions. The model was discretized using an algorithm due to Hirota that guarantees stability and energy conservation. Chaotic behavior was diagnosed using the Lyapunov exponent, with additional information from space-time profiles, Fourier power spectra, and phase space plots. Long time scales made it difficult to distinguish between asymptotically chaotic and integrable behavior.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 21, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA229434
Entities
People
- Dawn C. Meredith
- Harvey K. Shepard
Organizations
- University of New Hampshire