Polaron formation as a genuine nonequilibrium phenomenon

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that polaron formation occurs exclusively under nonequilibrium conditions, establishing it as a genuine nonequilibrium phenomenon with a threshold current necessary for their existence.

Contribution

It reveals that polarons in the Takayama Lin-Liu Maki model form only out of equilibrium, highlighting their nature as microscopic dissipative structures.

Findings

Polarons are only possible out of equilibrium.

A lower threshold current exists for polaron formation.

Polaron formation exemplifies a microscopic dissipative structure.

Abstract

Solitons and polarons at nonequilibrium steady states are investigated for the spinless Takayama Lin-Liu Maki model. Polarons are found to be possible {\it only out of equilibrium}. This polaron formation is a genuine nonequilibrium phenomenon, as there is a lower threshold current below which they cannot exist. It is considered to be an example of microscopic dissipative structure.