Quantum Breathers in a Nonlinear Lattice

Abstract

We study nonlinear phonon excitations in a one-dimensional quantum nonlinear lattice model using numerical exact diagonalization. We find that multiphonon bound states exist as eigenstates which are natural counterparts of breather solutions of classical nonlinear systems. In a translationally invariant system, these quantum breather states form particlelike bands and are characterized by a finite correlation length. The dynamic structure factor has significant intensity for the breather states, with a corresponding quenching of the neighboring bands of multiphonon extended states.