Supersonic mechanisms for charge and energy transfers in anharmonic molecular chains

The dynamical theory of a quantum quasiparticle moving in a deformable anharmonic chain is extended into the supersonic region. Besides a supersonic self-trapping mode, which is a direct extension of the well-known subsonic Davydov-Scott mode, two additional dynamically stable transfer mechanisms have been discovered in this region: (i) the capture and transfer of the self-trapping state by a supersonic acoustic (lattice) soliton and (ii) the pairing of two lattice solitons via their interaction with a quasiparticle. {} 1996 The American Physical Society.