Breathers and kinks in a simulated crystal experiment

TL;DR

This paper presents a simple 1D model simulating energy transmission and atom ejection in a mica crystal, revealing complex behaviors like mode transitions and surface reflections, inspired by a 2007 experiment.

Contribution

It introduces the first model of the 2007 mica crystal experiment, capturing localized modes, energy-dependent transitions, and surface effects in a simplified framework.

Findings

Energy-dependent transition between breather and kink modes

Multiple atom ejections at both surfaces

Heavier surface layer causes internal reflections

Abstract

We develop a simple 1D model for the scattering of an incoming particle hitting the surface of mica crystal, the transmission of energy through the crystal by a localized mode, and the ejection of atom(s) at the incident or distant face. This is the first attempt to model the experiment described in Russell and Eilbeck in 2007 (EPL, v. 78, 10004). Although very basic, the model shows many interesting features, for example a complicated energy dependent transition between breather modes and a kink mode, and multiple ejections at both incoming and distant surfaces. In addition, the effect of a heavier surface layer is modelled, which can lead to internal reflections of breathers or kinks at the crystal surface.