Abstract
Heat conduction through the Frenkel-Kontorova lattices is numerically investigated in the presence of a deformable substrate potential. It is found that the deformation of the substrate potential has a strong influence on heat conduction. The thermal conductivity as a function of the shape parameter is nonmonotonic. The deformation can enhance thermal conductivity greatly, and there exists an optimal deformable value at which thermal conductivity takes its maximum. Remarkably, we also find that the deformation can facilitate the appearance of the negative differential thermal resistance.
- Received 18 October 2010
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.83.011131
© 2011 American Physical Society