Stepwise quantum decay of self-localized solitons

TL;DR

This paper investigates the quantum decay process of self-localized solitons in a one-dimensional anharmonic lattice, revealing a stepwise phonon emission mechanism influenced by quantum anharmonicity.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed analysis of two-phonon decay in solitons caused by cubic anharmonicity, highlighting the quantum nature of the decay process and its dependence on anharmonicity strength.

Findings

Decay occurs via phonon bursts with emission rate about one quantum per vibrational period.

Relaxation time varies from a few to thousands of vibrational periods depending on anharmonicity.

Quantum anharmonicity parameter determines the characteristic decay time.

Abstract

The two-phonon decay of self-localized soliton in a one-dimensional monatomic anharmonic lattice caused by cubic anharmonicity is considered. It is shown that the decay takes place with emission of phonon bursts. The average rate of emission of phonons is of the order of vibrational quantum per vibrational period. Characteristic time of the relaxation is determined by the quantum anharmonicity parameter; this time may vary from a few (quantum lattices, large anharmonicity) to thousands (ordinary lattices, small anharmonicity) of vibrational periods.