Self-consistent description of interacting phonons in a crystal lattice

TL;DR

This paper introduces a self-consistent model for interacting phonons in a crystal lattice, accounting for temperature-dependent phonon speed and energy, and explains deviations from classical specific heat laws at various temperatures.

Contribution

It generalizes the Debye model by incorporating temperature-dependent phonon properties through a self-consistent approach.

Findings

Low-temperature correction to specific heat proportional to T^7.

Prediction of linear deviation from Dulong-Petit law at high temperatures.

Thermodynamics of the self-consistent phonon gas is developed.

Abstract

Self-consistent approach for interacting phonons description in lattice, which generalized Debye model, is proposed. Notion of "self-consistent" phonons is introduced, speed of which depends on temperature and is determined from non-linear equation. Debye energy is also a function of temperature in this approach. Thermodynamics of "self-consistent" phonon gas is constructed. It is shown, that at low temperatures there is a correction proportional to the seventh power of temperature to the cubic law of specific heat dependence on temperature. This may be one of the reasons why cubic law for specific heat is observed only at rather low temperatures. At high temperatures the theory predicts linear deviation from Dulong-Petit law, which is observed experimentally.