Peierls Distortion and Quantum Solitons

TL;DR

This paper introduces a quantum model for 1D electron-phonon systems that unifies Peierls distortion and quantum solitons, highlighting non-linear interactions and deformed symmetries.

Contribution

It presents a novel quantum model incorporating non-linear electron-phonon interactions and coherent phonon states, generalizing the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model.

Findings

Unified description of Peierls distortion and quantum solitons

Identification of non-linear electron-phonon interactions

Deformed symmetry of the Hamiltonian

Abstract

Peierls distortion and quantum solitons are two hallmarks of 1-dimensional condensed-matter systems. Here we propose a quantum model for a one-dimensional system of non-linearly interacting electrons and phonons, where the phonons are represented via coherent states. This model permits a unified description of Peierls distortion and quantum solitons. The non-linear electron-phonon interaction and the resulting deformed symmetry of the Hamiltonian are distinctive features of the model, of which that of Su, Schrieffer and Heeger can be regarded as a special case.