Topological solitons in Frenkel—Kontorova chains

Abstract

The properties of topological defects representing local regions of contraction and extension in the Frenkel—Kontorova chains are described. These defects exhibit the properties of quasi-particles—solitons that possess certain effective masses and are capable of moving in the Peierls—Navarro potential field having the same period as that of the substrate on which the chain is situated. The energy characteristics related to soliton motion in the chain are discussed. The dynamics of highly excited solitons that can appear either during topological defect formation or as a result of thermal fluctuation is considered. The decay of such an excitation resulting in soliton thermalization under the action of a fluctuating field generated by atomic vibrations in the chain and substrate is described in terms of the generalized Langevin equation. It is shown that soliton motion can be described using a statistically averaged equation until the moment when the soliton attains the state of thermodynamic equilibrium or is captured in one of the Peierls—Navarro potential wells, after which the motion of soliton in the chain acquires a hopping (activation) character. Analytical expression describing the curve of soliton excitation decay is obtained.