Freezing of nonlinear Bloch oscillations in the generalized discrete nonlinear Schrödinger equation

Abstract

The dynamics in a nonlinear Schrödinger chain in a homogeneous electric field is studied. We show that discrete translational invariant integrability-breaking terms can freeze the Bloch nonlinear oscillations and introduce new faster frequencies in their dynamics. These phenomena are studied by direct numerical integration and through an adiabatic approximation. The adiabatic approximation allows a description in terms of an effective potential that greatly clarifies the phenomena.