Unified theory of second sound in two-dimensional materials

Abstract

We develop a unified theory for second sound in two-dimensional materials. Previously studied drifting and driftless second sound are two limiting cases of the theory, corresponding to the drift and diffusive part of the energy flux, respectively. We find that due to the presence of quadratic flexural phonons, the drifting second sound does not exist in the thermodynamic limit, while the driftless mode is less affected. This is understood as a result of infinite effective inertia of flexural phonons, due to their constant density states and divergent Bose-Einstein distribution in the long wavelength limit. Consequently, the group velocity of the drifting mode is smaller than that of the driftless mode. However, upon tensile strain, the velocity of the drifting mode becomes larger. Both of them increase with tensile strain due to the linearization of the flexural phonon dispersion. Our results clarify several puzzles encountered previously and pave the way for exploring wavelike heat transport beyond the hydrodynamic regime.