Quantum Breaking of Elastic String

TL;DR

This paper develops an analytic model for atomic chain breaking under stress, capturing both quantum tunneling and thermal activation regimes, and proposes experimental observation via STM.

Contribution

It introduces an analytic formula for chain breaking probability that unifies tunneling and thermal regimes using conformal mapping techniques.

Findings

Derived a formula covering broad temperature ranges

Interpolates between tunneling and thermal activation regimes

Proposes STM experiment to observe ultrasonic-induced breaking

Abstract

Breaking of an atomic chain under stress is a collective many-particle tunneling phenomenon. We study classical dynamics in imaginary time by using conformal mapping technique, and derive an analytic formula for the probability of breaking. The result covers a broad temperature interval and interpolates between two regimes: tunneling and thermal activation. Also, we consider the breaking induced by an ultrasonic wave propagating in the chain, and propose to observe it in an STM experiment.