Dynamical phyllotaxis: transition modes and Sine-Gorden-like solitons

ORAL

Abstract

Repulsive particles constrained to a cylindrical surface generate a rich set of static spiral patterns known as phyllotaxis. The ground states and quasi-static transitions of phyllotaxis has been well understood based on the conventional hypothesis that particles always form a cylindrical lattice. We investigate inhomogeneous transition modes which break this helical symmetry to connect monojugate and multijugate patterns. Furthermore, traveling Sine-Gordon-like solitons in dynamical phyllotaxis are observed in numerical simulations and explained using a modified Frenkel-Kontorova model. We show that kinks propagate spirally along selected parastichies and carry an intrinsic dipole. Applications in different areas of physics are discussed.

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Authors

  • Yuanxi Wang

    • Penn State University

  • Cristiano Nisoli

    • T- Division, CNLS Los Alamos National Laboratory
    • Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Vincent Crespi

    • Penn State University
    • Phys. Dpt., Penn State Univ
    • Penn State
    • Department of Physics and Materials Research Institute, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802-6300, USA
    • Department of Physics, Pennsylvania State University