The influence of constriction on the motion of graphene kinks

TL;DR

This paper investigates how graphene kinks interact with constrictions, revealing behaviors like reflection, trapping, and transmission, and highlights the role of potential energy and resonance effects in these interactions.

Contribution

It demonstrates the influence of constrictions on graphene kink dynamics and compares molecular dynamics simulations with classical model predictions.

Findings

Constrictions create an attractive potential affecting kink motion.

Resonant reflection occurs due to potential energy barriers.

Asymmetric constrictions can change kink behavior types.

Abstract

Graphene kinks are topological states of buckled graphene membranes. We show that when a moving kink encounters a constriction, there are three general classes of behavior: reflection, trapping, and transmission. Overall, constriction is characterized by an attractive potential. In the case of a simple symmetric constriction, the kink potential energy has a relatively deep minimum surrounded by energy barriers. However, the potential energy alone does not fully define the class of behavior: the effect of a resonant reflection was observed in our simulations. Moreover, we demonstrate that asymmetric constrictions can transform kinks from one type into another. MD simulation results are compared with predictions of the classical $\phi^4$ model.