Phase space transport in a symmetric Caldera potential with three index-1 saddles and no minima

Abstract

We apply the method of Lagrangian Descriptors (LDs) to a symmetric Caldera-type potential energy surface which has three index-1 saddles surrounding a relatively flat region that contains no minimum. Using this method we show the phase space transport mechanism that is responsible for the existence and non-existence of the phenomenon of dynamical matching for this form of Caldera potential energy surface.