Homework #6

1. Continuum wave equation. Show that for long wavelengths the equation of motion,
d 2 us
M 2 C (us 1 us 1 2us ) , reduces to the continuum elastic wave equation
dt
2
2u
2 u

v
t 2
x 2
where v is the velocity of sound.
Solution:
For a , us 1 us is small.

Replacing us with u(x ) , we have us u(sa) ,

d 2 us 2 u ( x , t )

. Thus
dt 2
t 2
u
1 2u 2
us 1 u(( s 1)a ) u(a ) a
a
x
2 x 2
2u
or u(( s 1)a ) u(( s 1)a ) 2u( sa) 2 a 2
x
2
d u
Then M 2 s C (us 1 us 1 2us ) becomes
dt
2
2
2 u ( x, t )
u ( x, t )
2u 2
2 u
M

C
v
a
or
t 2
t 2
x 2
x 2
us 1 u(( s 1)a ) , and

Ca 2
with v
.
M
Note the mass density is M / a 3 and the Yongs modulus is Y C / a . Then
v

Ca 2
Y

.
M

2. Diatomic chain. Consider the normal modes of a linear chain in which the force
constants between nearest-neighbor atoms are alternately C and 10C. Let the masses
be equal, and let the nearest-neighbor separation be a/2. Find (K ) at K 0 and
K / a . Sketch in the dispersion relation by eye. This problem simulates a crystal
of diatomic molecules such as H2.
Solution:
C

10C

10C

The atoms can be separated into two groups:

The first group has spring C at the left and spring 10C at right, and its motion can be
described by u A exp(ikx it ) .

The second group has spring 10C at the left and spring C at right, and its motion can
be described by v B exp(ikx it ) .
Then the equations of motion for these two groups are:
d 2us
m dt 2 10C ( v s 1 u s ) C ( v s 1 u s )

2
m d v s C (u s 1 v s ) 10C (u s 1 v s )
dt 2
Substitute u A exp(ikx it ) and v B exp(ikx it ) into these two equations,

m 2 A 10C ( Be ika / 2 A) C ( Be ika / 2 A)

;

2
ika / 2
B) 10C ( Ae ika / 2 B)
m B C ( Ae
(11C m 2 ) A C (10e ika / 2 e ika / 2 ) B 0
or
.
ika / 2
ika / 2
2

C
(
10
e

e
)
A

(
11
C

)
B

To have non-zero solution, we have

(11C m 2 ) A C (10e ika / 2 e ika / 2 ) B 0
0.
det
ika / 2
e ika / 2 ) A (11C m 2 ) B 0
C (10e
(11C m 2 ) 2 C 2 (100 1 20 cos ka) 0 , (11C m 2 ) C 101 20 cos ka
C (11 101 20 cos ka )
m
22C
At k=0, 12
, A B ; and 22 0 , A B .
m
20C
2C
At k=/a, 12
, A iB ; and 22
, A iB .
m
m

k
a

3. Atomic vibrations in a metal. Consider point ions of mass M and charge e immersed
in a uniform sea of conduction electrons. The ions are imagined to be in stable
equilibrium when at regular lattice points. If one ion is displaced a small distance r
from its equilibrium position, the restoring force is largely due to the electric charge
within the sphere of radius r centered at the equilibrium position. Take the number
density of ions (or of conduction electrons ) as 3 /( 4R 3 ) , which defines R. (a) Show
that the frequency of a single ion set into oscillation is (e2 / MR3 )1 / 2 . (b)
Estimate the value of this frequency for sodium, roughly. (c) From (a), (b), and some
common sense, estimate the order of magnitude of the velocity of sound in metal.
Solution:
(a) For a uniformly charged sphere of charge density , the electrical field at r
1 4 3 4
e
3e
r

r . Now
within the sphere is E ( r ) 2
, so
3
4R / 3
r
3
4R 3
3
er
E (r) 3 .
R
e2r
e2
The force acting on the ion is F eE 3 Kr with K 3 .
R
R
K
e2

.
M
MR 3
(b) For Sodium, M 23 1.67 10 24 g 3.8 10 23 g .
have

Then

Taking R=1, we

e2
(4.8 10 10 ) 2

~ 1014 (1 / s ) .
3
23
24
MR
3.8 10 10
14
(c) v ~ a ~ 10 108 106 cm / s .

4. Soft phonon modes. Consider a line of ions of equal mass but alternating in charge,
with e p e(1) p as the charge on the pth ion. The interatomic potential is the sum of
two contributions: (1) a short-range interaction of force constant C1R that acts
between nearest-neighbors only, and (2) a coulomb interaction between all ions. (a)
Show that the contribution of the coulomb interaction to the atomic force constants is
C pC 2( 1) p e2 / p 3a 3 , where a is the equilibrium nearest-neighbor distance. (b)
From 2 (2 / M ) C p (1 cos pKa ) , here C includes both nearest neighbor and
p 0

other neighbors, show that the dispersion relation may be written as

1
2 / 02 sin 2 Ka ( 1) p (1 cos pKa ) p 3 ,
2
p 1
2
2
3
where 0 4 / M and e / a . (c) Show that 2 is negative (unstable mode) at
the zone boundary Ka if 0.475 or 4 / 7 (3) , where is a Riemann zeta
function. Show further that the speed of sound at small Ka is imaginary if

 (2 ln 2)1 0.721 . Thus 2 goes to zero and the lattice is unstable for some
value of Ka in the interval (0, ) if 0.475 0.721 . Notice that the phonon
spectrum is not that of a diatomic lattice because the interaction of any ion with its
neighbors is the same as that of any other ion.
Solution:
(a) The force between two ions is e 2 / r 2 .
us

us+p
pa
pa+us+p-us

For two ions at sth and (s+p)th sites, their separation distance is pa without ion
displacement, and is pa us p us after the sth and (s+p)th ions are displaced by u s
and us p , respectively. Then the force between the two ions will change by an

( 1) p e 2
( 1) p e 2 ( 1) p 2e 2

(u s p u s ) .
( pa us p us ) 2
( pa ) 2
( pa ) 3
accounts for the sign change of the two charges.
amount of

Here (1) p

(b) The equation of motion for the sth ion is

d 2 us
( 1) p 2e 2
m 2 (us 1 us ) (us 1 us )
(u s p u s u s p u s ) .
dt
( pa ) 3
p 1
Let us A exp(ikxs it ) , and substitute it into the above equation.

m 2 (e ika 1) ( e ika 1)
p 1

2 (cos ka 1)
p 1

( 1) 4e
(cos pka 1)
( pa ) 3
p

2
4e 2

(1 cos ka)
m
ma 3
2

4
ka 4e
sin 2
3
m
2 ma

Define 0

( 1) p 2e 2 ikpa
( e 1 e ikpa 1)
3
( pa )

p 1

p 1

( 1) p
(1 cos pka)
p3

( 1) p
(1 cos pka)
p3

4
e2
and 3 , then
m
a

2
( 1) p
2 ka

sin

(1 cos pka)

02
p3
2
p 1

 ka
(c) At ka , cos( pka) (1) p and sin 1 . Then
2
2
p

( 1)
1
(1 ( 1) p )
2
3
0
p
p 1
1 1
2 2 2

1 3 3 3 ... 1 2 1 3 3 ...
1 3 5

3 5

1 2.106
If 1 / 2.106 0.475 , 2 0 .
For ka 1 ,

2 ka
( 1) p kpa
2

02 2
p3 2
p 1
2

( 1) p ka
1

(1 2 ln 2)
p
p

2
2
If 1 / 2 ln 2 0.721 , 0 .
Strong Coulomb interaction makes the lattice unstable.

ka

2

5. For a 1D lattice, if k1 k2 2n / a ,
(a) Show that k1 and k 2 describe the same elastic wave.
(b) For a special case of k1 / 3a and k2 7 / 3a , make a plot of cos(k1 x ) and
cos(k2 x ) versus x / a . Confirm the conclusion of (a) from the plot.
Solution:
(a) For u1 A exp(ik1 x it ) , u2 A exp(ik 2 x it ) , u2 / u1 exp[(ik 2 k1 ) x] . For
k1 k2 2n / a and x pa , u2 / u1 exp(i 2np] 1 .
(b)
1.0

0.5

0.0

-0.5

-1.0

x/a

Note the two curves cross at x/a=integer.

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