A new theory of acoustic solitary-wave polaron motion

Abstract

The formation and break-up of the acoustic solitary-wave polaron from a free electron and acoustic phonons in one dimension is described. In an electric field the polaron moves as a massive rigid classical particle. Energy dissipation by acoustic phonons is weak, the mobility in the continuum limit is infinite, and the polaron drift velocity is the velocity of sound. The theory is applied to polydiacetylene and explains the experimental ultra-high mobility and saturated drift velocity found in that material by Donovan and Wilson (1981).