Evidence for moving breathers in a layered crystal insulator at 300K

TL;DR

This study provides experimental evidence of moving breathers in a layered crystal insulator at room temperature, showing atom ejection caused by energetic localized vibrations traveling long distances in the crystal lattice.

Contribution

First experimental observation of long-distance moving breathers in a layered insulator at 300K, created by heavy ion bombardment.

Findings

Atoms ejected at the crystal surface due to breathers.

Breathers traveled over 10^7 unit cells.

Observation made in layered crystal muscovite at room temperature.

Abstract

We report the ejection of atoms at a crystal surface caused by energetic breathers which have travelled more than 10^7 unit cells in atomic chain directions. The breathers were created by bombardment of a crystal face with heavy ions. This effect was observed at 300K in the layered crystal muscovite, which has linear chains of atoms for which the surrounding lattice has C_2 symmetry. The experimental techniques described could be used to study breathers in other materials and configurations.