Interaction of moving discrete breathers with interstitial defects

TL;DR

This study uses numerical simulations to show that moving discrete breathers can enhance the mobility of interstitial defects in a crystal lattice, suggesting a long-range energy transport mechanism.

Contribution

It demonstrates, through numerical analysis, that moving discrete breathers facilitate interstitial defect migration, supporting the hypothesis of nonlinear vibrational excitations aiding defect mobility.

Findings

Interstitial diffusion is more likely than vacancy diffusion.

Breather scattering accelerates interstitial migration.

Long-range energy transport may enhance defect mobility.

Abstract

In this paper, interstitial migration generated by scattering with a mobile breather is investigated numerically in a Frenkel-Kontorova one-dimensional lattice. Consistent with experimental results it is shown that interstitial diffusion is more likely and faster than vacancy diffusion. Our simulations support the hypothesis that a long-range energy transport mechanism involving moving nonlinear vibrational excitations may significantly enhance the mobility of point defects in a crystal lattice.