A dissipative one-dimensional collision model with intermediate energy storage

We study a simple model for a dissipative collision process of two one-dimensional chains, consisting of point-particles. In this model, the particles interact with their nearest neighbors via nonlinear Morse potentials. In addition, each particle is subject to nonlinear friction, modeling the transfer of energy between the translational degree of freedom and energy depots, representing further (internal) degrees of freedom. Depending on the momentary state of the system, this energy exchange mechanism can decrease or increase the kinetic energy of the particles on the cost of the depots. In particular, the clusters are assumed to have the ability to store parts of their initial energy in the depots. In later stages of a collision process, the stored depot energy can be used for an acceleration of the fragments, i.e., it can be converted into kinetic energy of motion. Both, analytically and by means of computer simulations, we investigate the dependence of the fragmentation channels, observed after the collisions, on different initial conditions (e.g. initial particle energy, cluster size) and system parameters.