PHZ3400-11 Problem Set 6

Diatomic harmonic chain

1. Consider a chain of atoms with alternating masses $m_{1}\;$ and $m_{2}\;$, connected with elastic springs with constant $K\;$, moving only in the x-direction. Derive the dispersion relation $\omega ^{\alpha }(k)\;$ for this chain, with the index $\alpha =1,2\;$ corresponding to the acoustic and the optical branch, respectively.

2. Determine the speed of sound for this chain.

3. Sketch the motion of the atoms corresponding to the edge of the Brillouin zone, both for the optical and the acoustic branch.

4. Consider low temperatures and determine the wavelength of the most abundant phonons $\lambda _{max}(T)$ (Hint: note the analogy with Wien's Law!)