Perturbation theory for localized solutions of sine-Gordon equation: decay of a breather and pinning by microresistor

Abstract

We develop a perturbation theory that describes bound states of solitons localized in a confined area. External forces and influence of inhomogeneities are taken into account as perturbations to exact solutions of the sine-Gordon equation. We have investigated two special cases of fluxon trapped by a microresistor and decay of a breather under dissipation. Also, we have carried out numerical simulations with dissipative sine-Gordon equation and made comparison with the McLaughlin-Scott theory. Significant distinction between the McLaughlin-Scott calculation for a breather decay and our numerical result indicates that the history dependence of the breather evolution can not be neglected even for small damping parameter.