Universal scaling of the thermalization time in one-dimensional lattices

Universality classes of thermalization and energy diffusion

In this paper, we show that classical lattices can be classified into two universality classes for thermalization, based solely on the properties of their eigenmodes. This discovery is a consequence of our systematic multiwave quasiresonance analysis, a tool developed to this end. Lattices with extended modes belong to one class that can thermalize within a finite time, even when the nonlinearity strength is very weak, provided the system size is sufficiently large. In contrast, lattices with purely localized modes fall into another class. For these systems, the scaling behavior of thermalization time shifts stepwise from low-order to progressively higher-order quasiresonances as nonlinear strength decreases, implying that thermalization may become unattainable within a reasonable time for sufficiently weak nonlinearity strength. Furthermore, we show that the real-space energy diffusion behavior of the two classes is qualitatively different as well.

Chaotic route to classical thermalization: A real-space analysis

Most of the previous studies on classical thermalization focus on the wave-vector space, encountering limitations when extended beyond quasi-integrable regions. In this study, we propose a scheme to study the thermalization of the classical Hamiltonian chain of interacting oscillators in real space by developing a thermalization indicator proposed by Parisi [Europhys. Lett. 40, 357 (1997)0295-507510.1209/epl/i1997-00471-9], which approaches zero in the thermal state. Upon reaching the steady state characterized by the generalized Gibbs ensemble for a harmonic chain, a quench protocol is implemented to change the Hamiltonian to a nonintegrable form instantaneously, thereby preparing nonequilibrium initial states. This approach enables investigations of thermalization in real space, particularly valuable for exploring regions beyond quasi-integrability. For the FPUT-β lattice, we observe that the thermalization time as a function of the nonintegrable strength follows a -2 scaling law in the quasi-integrable region and -1/4 in the strongly integrable region. Moreover, numerical results reveal the thermalization time is proportional to the Lyapunov time, which bridges microscopic chaotic dynamics and the macroscopic thermalization process.

Thermalization of Two- and Three-Dimensional Classical Lattices

Understanding how systems achieve thermalization is a fundamental task in statistical physics. This Letter presents both analytical and numerical evidence showing that thermalization can be universally achieved in sufficiently large two- and three-dimensional lattices via weak nonlinear interactions. Thermalization time follows a universal scaling law unaffected by lattice structures, types of interaction potentials, or whether the lattice is ordered or not. Moreover, this study highlights the critical impact of dimensionality and degeneracy on thermalization dynamics.

Thermalization process in a one-dimensional lattice with two-dimensional motions: The role of angular momentum conservation

We study the thermalization process in a one-dimensional lattice with two-dimensional motions. The phonon modes in such a lattice consist of two branches. Unlike in general nonlinear Hamiltonian systems, for which the only conserved quantity is the total energy, the total angular momentum J is also conserved in this system. Consequently, the intra- and interbranch energy transports behave significantly differently. For the intrabranch transport, all the existing rules for the one-dimensional systems including the Chirikov overlap criterion apply. As for the interbranch transport, some trivial processes in one-dimensional lattices become nontrivial. During these processes, all the conservation laws can be satisfied exactly; thus the Chirikov criterion does not apply. These processes provide some fast channels for the interbranch transport, although the thermalization cannot be reached through them alone. A system with nonzero-J initial state, however, can never be thermalized to an equipartition state having zero J. Quite counterintuitively, the corresponding asymptotic mode energy distribution greatly concentrates to a few lowest-frequency modes in one branch.

Statistical Analysis of Random Motion and Energetic Behavior of Counting: Gibbs' Theory Revisited

Following a recently reformulated Gibbs' statistical chemical thermodynamic theory on discrete state space, we present a treatment on statistical measurements of random mechanical motions in continuous space. In particular, we show how the concept of temperature and an ideal gas/solution law arise from a statistical analysis of a collection of independent and identically distributed complex particles without relying on Newtonian mechanics, nor the very concept of mechanical energy. When sampling from an ergodic system, the data ad infinitum limit elucidates how the entropy function characterizes randomness among measurements with the emergence of a novel energetic representation for the statistics and an internal energy additivity. This generalization of Gibbs' theory is applicable to statistical measurements on single living cells and other complex biological organisms, one individual at a time.

Dynamic crossover towards energy equipartition in the Fermi-Pasta-Ulam-Tsingou β model with long-range interactions

Energy equipartition can be established in short-range systems after the dynamic process of thermalization. However, energy distribution between different degrees of freedom in systems with long-range interactions is unclear. We study the dynamics of energy relaxation in the Fermi-Pasta-Ulam-Tsingou β model with long-range quartic interactions, which decay as 1/d^{δ} with d being the lattice distance. The dynamic crossover of a mode-energy distribution from localized to equipartitioned with the increase of the power δ is observed. A transition of mode-energy distribution is identified around the value of δ=1, which usually serves as the distinction between strong and weak long-range couplings. We elucidate that the varying frequency overlapping of the mode-energy power spectrum is responsible for this dynamic crossover. Through further calculation of the spectral entropy, the minimum duration of quasistationary states, τ_{QSS}, is found at δ=2, which may provide possible dynamic explanations for the peculiar behavior of heat transport in long-range lattice chains. In addition, the double scaling in τ_{QSS} as a function of energy density is also observed in our long-range lattices. Our results not only contribute to understanding the dynamics of energy relaxation in long-range systems, but also shed light on the longstanding problem of thermalization and low-dimensional heat transport in short-range systems.

Correlation functions and their universal connection during an extremely slow equilibration process

We study the equilibration process of a one-dimensional lattice with transverse motions and external magnetic field. Starting from certain initial states, the system commonly reaches a metastable transient state shortly and then stays there for an extremely long time before it finally arrives in the ergodic equilibrium state. The relaxation time T_{eq} diverges even much more rapidly than exponential, which, compared with the widely reported power-law or even exponential divergence in many other systems, implies much higher stability of the transient state. Two correlation functions, the spatiotemporal correlation of the local energy and the autocorrelation of global heat current, are studied in both the metastable transient and the final equilibrium states. It is revealed that the correlations behave entirely differently in the two different states. In the former case they suggest normal heat diffusion and normal heat conduction; whereas in the latter one they indicate super heat diffusion and anomalous heat conduction. More importantly, we confirm that a general relation which connects the two correlations keeps valid not only in the equilibrium state but in the metastable transient state as well. The universality of the connection is, thus, extended.

Effect of pressure on thermalization of one-dimensional nonlinear chains

Pressure plays a vital role in changing the transport properties of matter. To understand this phenomenon at a microscopic level, we here focus on a more fundamental problem, i.e., how pressure affects the thermalization properties of solids. As illustrating examples, we study the thermalization behavior of the monatomic chain and the mass-disordered chain of Fermi-Pasta-Ulam-Tsingou-β under different strains in the thermodynamic limit. It is found that the pressure-induced change in integrability results in qualitatively different thermalization processes for the two kinds of chains. However, for both cases, the thermalization time follows the same law-it is inversely proportional to the square of the nonintegrability strength. This result suggests that pressure can significantly change the integrability of a system, which provides a new perspective for understanding the pressure-dependent thermal transport behavior.

Analytical approach to Lyapunov time: Universal scaling and thermalization

Based on the geometrization of dynamics and self-consistent phonon theory, we develop an analytical approach to derive the Lyapunov time, the reciprocal of the largest Lyapunov exponent, for general nonlinear lattices of coupled oscillators. The Fermi-Pasta-Ulam-Tsingou-like lattices are exemplified by using the method, which agree well with molecular dynamical simulations for the cases of quartic and sextic interactions. A universal scaling behavior of the Lyapunov time with the nonintegrability strength is observed for the quasi-integrable regime. Interestingly, the scaling exponent of the Lyapunov time is the same as the thermalization time, which indicates a proportional relationship between the two timescales. This relation illustrates how the thermalization process is related to the intrinsic chaotic property.

Wave-Turbulence Origin of the Instability of Anderson Localization against Many-Body Interactions

Whether Anderson localization is robust against many-body interactions and, closely related, whether a disordered many-body system can be thermalized are long outstanding issues. In this Letter, we address these issues with the wave-turbulence theory. We show that, in general, the thermalization time in one-dimensional disordered lattice systems is inversely proportional to the squared interaction strength in the thermodynamic limit. It leads to the conclusion that such systems can always be thermalized by arbitrarily weak many-body interactions and thus the localized states are unstable.

Nonintegrability and thermalization of one-dimensional diatomic lattices

Nonintegrability is a necessary condition for the thermalization of a generic Hamiltonian system. In practice, the integrability can be broken in various ways. As illustrating examples, we numerically studied the thermalization behaviors of two types of one-dimensional (1D) diatomic chains in the thermodynamic limit. One chain was the diatomic Toda chain whose nonintegrability was introduced by unequal masses. The other chain was the diatomic Fermi-Pasta-Ulam-Tsingou-β chain whose nonintegrability was introduced by quartic nonlinear interaction. We found that these two different methods of destroying the integrability led to qualitatively different routes to thermalization in the near-integrable region, but the thermalization time, T_{eq}, followed the same scaling law; T_{eq} was inversely proportional to the square of the perturbation strength. This law also agreed with the existing results of 1D monatomic lattices. All these results imply that there is a universal scaling law of thermalization that is independent of the method of breaking integrability.