Commensurability in one-dimensional lattices at finite temperature

Abstract

The theory of commensurability transitions in one-dimensional atomic chains has been applied to charge density waves, mercury chain compounds, superionic conductors, etc. Previous numerical and analytical results on a model with chains of atoms with nearest neighbor interactions and periodic external potentials have dealt mainly with equilibrium and dynamical properties atT = 0 K. These studies are extended to nonzero temperatures. It is found that the reversible work per particle to slide the chain vanishes in the thermodynamic limit for any nonzero temperature. The mathematical pathologies associated with the commensurability transition atT= 0 (i.e., the “devil's stair”) are absent at finite temperature; only thermodynamic evidence of low-order Commensurability transitions remains.