Electron Transport Mediated by Nonlinear Excitations in Atomic Layers

Abstract

We study the quantum dynamics in tight‐binding approximation (TBA) of an electron interacting with a classical nonlinear lattice of atoms. By computer simulations we show the existence of fast and nearly loss‐free motions of electrons along crystallographic axes of a two‐dimensional dynamic triangular lattice. Moving bound states between electrons and lattice solitons are formed. These so‐called solectrons allow to transfer charge which initially is localized at certain site to a different place along the same crystallographic axis, with negligible spreading of probability density. The relation to experimental findings about controlling electrons by surface acoustic waves (SAW) in piezoelectric materials is pointed out. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)