The process of heat conduction in a chain with a periodic potential of nearest-neighbor interaction is investigated by means of molecular dynamics simulation. It is demonstrated that the periodic potential of nearest-neighbor interaction allows one to obtain normal heat conductivity in an isolated one-dimensional chain with conserved momentum. The system exhibits a transition from infinite to normal heat conductivity with the growth of its temperature. The physical reason for normal heat conductivity is the excitation of high-frequency stationary localized rotational modes. These modes absorb the momentum and facilitate locking of the heat flux.

• Received 16 August 1999

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.84.2381