13-1 Normal modes of a linear chain of ions. Cor ‘ider a linear chain in which alternate ions have masses mm, and mz and only nearest neighbors interact through a spring of force constant K. Find the dispersion relations for the normal modes. Dis for m, > mg and m, = m2. ss the limiting cases The lattice potential energy is given by 1 1 o aK Lua -up)?+ 3K Dilwiesi -i where uj, is the displacement of the vth ion (v = 1,2) in the jth primitive cell from its equilibrium position. The forces exerting on the two ions in the jth primitive cell can be obtained by differenti- ating ® with respect to their displacements. We have oP AL aa, 1 1 = K(uje — uj.) — K (uj — ua) = —K(2uj1 — uja — uy_12),Normal Modes of Lattice Vibrations 179 and de Fy =— Duzs je = —K (ugg — uy) + K(tjya — 2) = —K(2uja — uj — typi). From Newton's second law, we obtain the classical equations of mo- tion for ions myiijr K(2Quj1 — uja — uj_a2). moatijg = —K(2uj2 — uj — wpa) Let N be the number of primitive cells in the crystal. Then, there are 2N equations of motion for 2N ions. Let d be the equilibrium neighboring ions. The latt is then a = 2d and the lattice vectors can be expressed as ty = ja. To solve the above equations of motion, we make a Fourier transformation to uj, with respect to both R; and time f t= F_ QAk, who, kw distance between two neare fe constant The allowed values of k are given by ky, = 2na/Na with n = 0, £1, +2, -+., +(N/2=1), N/2 which follows from the Born-van Karman periedic boundary condition, We now find the allowed values of w. In the me normal modes. Substituting the above Fourier expansion of tj, into the equations of motion, we have (2K —myw*)Qi(k,w) — K(1 +07") Qa(k, ws) = —K(1 +e" )Q1(k,w) + (2K — mow") Qo(ke.w) tions of the n time, we also obtain the dispersion The above equations can be regarded as a set of homogencous linear equations for Fourier coefficients Q;{k,w) and Qa(k,w). According to the theory of linear algebras, the necessary and sufficient condi- istence of nontrivial solutions determinant of coefficients. We then have tion for the e the vanishing of theThe above equations can be regarded as a set of homogeneous linear equations for Fourier coefficients Q;(k,w) and Qatk,w). According to the theory of linear algebras, the necessary and sufficient condi- tion for the once of nontrivial solutions is the vanishing of the determinant of coefficients. We then have 2K -mu* —K(+e"%*) —K(1+e!) 2K — iw? det Evaluating the determinant, we obtain mamau — 2K (mi + m2)? + 4K? sin?(ka/2) = 0. Solving the above equation, we obtain the allowed values of w W = tia, tea,