Momentum transfer in crystal lattices with vibrating atoms

Abstract

A momentum transfer equation previously used to describe non-elastic deformation in crystalline solids represented by point masses at fixed lattice positions is extended to take into account the existence of intrinsic (e.g. thermal) small amplitude vibrations of the masses about their mean positions in a lattice. Use of the time-dependent Schroedinger equation to describe momentum transfer and deformation is also discussed in terms of this vibrating point-mass lattice model. The result is that a modified and identical differential equation for momentum transfer is obtained from each approach; some solutions to this equation are presented. The previous particle momentum wave frequency dependence on wave vector and resulting applications to non-elastic deformation are unchanged, but these particle momentum waves can now be considered as modulating the usual high-frequency waves associated with the elastic modes of a crystalline solid.