Discrete Breathers in $$\phi ^4$$ and Related Models

Abstract

In this Chapter, we touch upon the wide topic of discrete breather (DB) formation with a special emphasis on the prototypical system of interest, namely the φ 4 model. We start by introducing the model and discussing some of the application areas/motivational aspects of exploring time periodic, spatially localized structures, such as the DBs. Our main emphasis is on the existence, and especially on the stability features of such solutions. We explore their spectral stability numerically, as well as in special limits (such as the vicinity of the so-called anti-continuum limit of vanishing coupling) analytically. We also provide and explore a simple, yet powerful stability criterion involving the sign of the derivative of the energy vs. frequency dependence of such solutions. We then turn our attention to nonlinear stability, bringing forth the importance of a topological notion, namely the Krein signature. Furthermore, we briefly touch upon linearly and nonlinearly unstable dynamics of such states. Some special aspects/extensions of such structures are only touched upon, including moving breathers and dissipative variations of the model and some possibilities for future work are highlighted. While this Chapter by no means aspires to be comprehensive, we hope that it provides some recent developments (a large fraction of which is not included in time-honored DB reviews) and associated future possibilities.

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