Cross-correlations between phonon modes in anharmonic oscillator chains: role in heat transport.

We have computed current-current correlation functions in chains of anharmonic oscillators described by various models (FPU-β, FPU-αβ, ϕ4), considering both the total current and the currents associated with individual phonon modes, which are important in view of the Green-Kubo relation for heat conductivity. Our simulations show that, contrary to the common hypothesis, there are, under some circumstances, significant correlations between neighboring modes. These cross-mode correlations are the dominant contribution to the conductivity in the low anharmonicity regime.