Multisoliton propagation in a linear granular chain.

When m grains hit a linear Hertzian chain of identical grains, m solitons are generated. We studied the multisoliton propagation using a particle dynamic simulation. The speed of solitons depends not only on the number of colliding grains but also on the sequence of generation. We found the hierarchy and evolution of the solitons as well as the generation of secondary solitons. We also found the oscillation and beats in the kinetic energy of the chain, which come from the discreteness of the medium in comparison with the spatial spreading of the soliton.