On the finite thermal conductivity of a one-dimensional rotator lattice

A heat transfer process is studied in a one-dimensional lattice of coupled rotators in which the orientation interaction between neighboring units is described by the periodic potential. Using this system as an example, it is demonstrated for the first time that one-dimensional lattices with a finit e thermal conductivity in the thermodynamic limit can exist without substra te potential. As the temperature increases, the given system transforms fro m the state with an infinite thermal conductivity to the state with a finit e thermal conductivity. The finiteness of the thermal conductivity stems fr om the existence of localized stationary excitations that interfere with he at transfer in the lattice. The lifetime and the concentration of these exc itations increase with an increase in the temperature, which leads to a mon otonic decrease in the thermal conductivity coefficient. (C) 2001 MAIK "Nau ka/Interperiodica".