Non-linear dynamics, breathers and photoinduced absorption in polyacetylene

A. R. Bishop, D. K. Campbell, P. S. Lomdahl, B. Horovitz, S. R. Phillpot

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

72 Scopus citations

Abstract

We study the dynamics of trans-(CH)x within the adiabatic approximation to the model of Su, Schrieffer and Heeger (SSH). We show, both by a qualitative analytic estimate and by quantitative numerical results, that a single soliton has a maximum velocity, vm, which can be higher than the velocity of sound. Further, using a long-time numerical simulation, we demonstrate that, from an initial-hole pair, such as would be generated in photoinduced experiments, a soliton and antisoliton emerge with velocities ±vm and that a persistent, spatially localized, time-periodic non-linear oscillation - a 'breather' - is left behind. We argue that this breather may account for the high energy, intra-gap structure observed in photoinduced absorption in both trans- and cis-(CH)x, including isotope dependence recently observed in experiments on trans-(CH)x and trans-(CD)x.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)223-239
Number of pages17
JournalSynthetic Metals
Volume9
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 1984
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Mechanics of Materials
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Metals and Alloys
  • Materials Chemistry

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