Universität zu Köln

Schmittner, Sebastian E. (2015). Models for disordered phonons. PhD thesis, Universität zu Köln.

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Abstract

We introduce novel models for disordered solids at very low temperatures with the goal of representing the physics of disorder causing local random fluctuations in the masses and inter-constituent forces. The basic model that provides the clean limit upon which the other models are built is a variant of the harmonic crystal. Neglecting the difference between longitudinal and transverse vibrational modes, known as phonons, we use a large number, n, of phonon bands. All models are constructed within a harmonic approximation for small oscillations about a stable ground state. That means that runaway dynamics are excluded, but interactions between phonons are neglected. Disorder is added by way of 14 suitable ensembles of local (hence sparse) random matrices. Each of these ensembles comes with a non-negative variance interpreted as the disorder strength. In principle, any of these disorder types can be combined, hence we obtain a model kit of disordered phonons. To assess the building blocks in our kit, we study the average density of states in the large-n limit, known as the coherent potential approximation (CPA). It is determined self-consistently by means of illustrative diagrammatic as well as rigorous supersymmetric techniques. The validity of this mean-field type approximation in three dimensions is verified by comparison with exact numerical diagonalisation. Two of our elementary models, one with pair potential (or "spring constant") and one with mass disorder, are particularly interesting. The model with strong spring constant and weak mass fluctuations is microscopically well motivated and leads to a phase transition (at finite disorder strength). A critical point terminates the weak-disorder (or Debye) phase, above which a strong-disorder phase is discovered. This novel phase features a finite density of states at zero energy. The two-parameter space of models combining both of these disorder types is called interfering mass and spring constant disorder (IMSC) model. Unlike the widely used two-level tunnelling system (TTLS) model, we do not make any a priori assumption about a finite density of scatterers at low energies. Hence we show that disorder alone is, in principle, sufficient to explain the experimental finding of the heat capacity of vitreous systems varying linearly with temperature below about 1K, first observed in 1971. The new strong-disorder phase is stable under the addition of most of the other disorder types. Assuming that the IMSC model is renormalisable and that critical points of the renormalisation group (RG) flow are correctly identified from the CPA, we predict a tentative RG flow diagram. Under these assumptions, the novel phase is also stable under the RG flow.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD thesis)
Translated title:	Title Language Modelle für ungeordnete Phononen German
Translated abstract:	Abstract Language Wir konstruieren im Rahmen dieser Arbeit neuartige Modelle fürungeordnete Festkörper bei sehr tiefen Temperaturen. Diese beschreiben harmonische Schwingungen um einen stabilen Grundzustand, deren Normalmoden als Phononen quantisieren. Stabilität bedeutet hier, dass anfänglich kleine Auslenkungen aus der Gleichgewichtslage unter Zeitentwicklung klein bleiben, was eine notwendige Voraussetzung für die Vernachlässigung der Wechselwirkungen zwischen Phononen ist. Das zugrundeliegende Modell des harmonischen Kristalls stellt den sauberen Grenzfall verschwindender Unordnung in allen Modellen dar. Wir vernachlässigen den Unterschied zwischen longitudinalen und transversalen Schwingungsmoden und verallgemeinern den harmonischen Kristall zu einem Modell mit einer beliebigen Anzahl, n, lokaler Moden, resultierend in n Phononen-Bändern. Es werden 14 verschiedene Ensembles lokaler Zufallsmatrizen zur Modellierung der Unordnung benutzt, jedes mit einer nicht negativen Varianz (Unordnungsstärke). Durch Unordnung verursachte lokale Fluktuationen in den Massen und in den harmonischen Kräften werden durch diese Zufallsvariablen möglichst wirklichkeitsnah in die Modelle einbezogen. Alle Unordnungstypen in diesem Modellbaukasten ungeordneter Phononen können beliebig kombiniert werde. Um die einzelnen Modelle hinsichtlich ihrer Realitätsnähe und Vorhersagekraft zu bewerten berechnen wir die Zustandsdichte asymptotische für große n. Dies entspricht einer als "coherent potential approximation" (CPA) bekannten Näherung. Die Berechnung mittels anschaulicher Diagrammatik liefert die selben Ergebnisse wie die rigorose supersymmetrische Methode. Die Anwendbarkeit der CPA in drei Dimensionen wird durch den Vergleich mit exakter Diagonalisierung verifiziert. Besonders interessant ist ein Modell, dass schwache Unordnung in den Massen mit starker Unordnung in den Kräften kombiniert. Dieses Modell ist mikroskopisch gut motiviert und führen zu einem (Quanten-)Phasenübergang bei endlicher Unordnungsstärke. Die (Debye) Phase schwacher Unordnung endet an einem kritischen Punkt und bei stärkerer Unordnung finden wir eine neuartige Phase mit einer endlichen und positiven Zustandsdichte bei beliebig kleiner Energie. Anders als das weit verbreitete zwei-Level Systeme (TTLS) Modell wird eine positive Zustandsdichte an Streuzentren bei kleinen Energien in unserem Modell nicht von vornherein angenommen. Wir können somit zeigen, dass Unordnung prinzipiell ohne Weiteres ausreicht um die experimentell erstmals 1971 beobachtete lineare Temperaturabhängigkeit der Wärmekapazität amorpher Festkörper bei Temperaturen unterhalb von etwa 1K zu erklären. Die neue Phase starker Unordnung ist stabil unter Hinzunahme der meisten anderen Unordnungstypen. Unter Annahme der Renormierbarkeit und korrekt identifizierter kritischer Punkte treffen wir eine vorläufige Vorhersage für den Renormierungsgruppenfluss, welcher die neue Phase ebenfalls stabilisiert. German
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Schmittner, Sebastian E. sebastian.schmittner@uni-koeln.de UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
Contributors:	Contribution Name Email Scientific advisor Zirnbauer, Martin zirn@thp.uni-koeln.de Collaborator Swiech, Artur swiech@thp.uni-koeln.de
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-59466
Date:	2015
Language:	English
Faculty:	Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
Divisions:	Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences > Department of Physics > Institute for Theoretical Physics
Subjects:	Physics
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language condensed matter, mathematical physics, supersymmetry, coherent potentail approximation, disordered systems, amorphous solids, glasses, low temperature, phonons, random matrix theory, density of states, heat capacity, universality English
Date of oral exam:	12 January 2015
Referee:	Name Academic Title Zirnbauer, Martin Prof. Dr. Altland, Alexander Prof. Dr.
Related URLs:	Author/Lecturer/Editor
Funders:	Deutsche Telekom Stiftung, Bonn-Cologne Graduate School of Physics and Astronomy, DPG via SFB|TR12
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Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/5946