Author: JFR Archilla   (pdf slides, 2.3Mb).
With V Dubinko and PA Selyshchev

Abstract: The existence of reconstructive transformations in layered silicates that occur at 1000 C below the expected temperature suggests the existence of nonlinear localized vibrations (breathers) that appear in the cation layer. Their properties and statistics are calculated, showing that their energies and concentrations are large enough to have an enormous influence in reconstructive transformations. Furthermore, breathers modulate the potential barrier further increasing the reaction rate. However, their energies and velocities are small to be considered as  candidates for quodons that travel along the crystal with energy enough to eject an atom at the surface as shown in an experiment. Supersonic, longitudinal, optic, kink solitons have much more energy and are faster, and therefore are much more suited to explain quodons.

NEMI 2012, Nonlinear Effects in Materials under Irradiation, Pretoria, South Africa, February 12-17, 2012.