Heat conduction in deformable Frenkel-Kontorova lattices: thermal   conductivity and negative differential thermal resistance
  Heat conduction through the Frenkel-Kontorova (FK) lattices is numerically investigated in the presence of a deformable substrate potential. It is found that the deformation of the substrate potential has a strong influence on heat conduction. The thermal conductivity as a function of the shape parameter is nonmonotonic. The deformation can enhance thermal conductivity greatly and there exists an optimal deformable value at which thermal conductivity takes its maximum. Remarkably, we also find that the deformation can facilitate the appearance of the negative differential thermal resistance (NDTR). 
Bao-quan Ai and Bambi Hu
cond-mat.stat-mech