Solvable model of driven matter with pinning

Abstract

We present a simple model of driven matter in a 1D medium with pinning impurities, applicable to magnetic domains walls, confined colloids, and other systems. We find rich dynamics, including hysteresis, reentrance, quasiperiodicity, and two distinct routes to chaos. In contrast to other minimal models of driven matter, the model is solvable: we derive the full phase diagram for small $N$, and for large $N$, derive expressions for order parameters and several bifurcation curves. The model is also realistic. Its collective states match those seen in the experiments of magnetic domain walls, and its force-velocity curve imitates those of superconductor vortices.