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Dynamical Chiral Symmetry Breaking in Sliding Nanotubes

X. H. Zhang, G. E. Santoro, U. Tartaglino, and E. Tosatti
Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 125502 – Published 23 March 2009
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Abstract

We discover in simulations of sliding coaxial nanotubes an unanticipated example of dynamical symmetry breaking taking place at the nanoscale. While both nanotubes are perfectly left-right symmetric and nonchiral, a nonzero angular momentum of phonon origin appears spontaneously at a series of critical sliding velocities, in correspondence with large peaks of the sliding friction. The nonlinear equations governing this phenomenon resemble the rotational instability of a forced string. However, several new elements, exquisitely “nano” appear here, with the crucial involvement of umklapp and of sliding nanofriction.

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  • Received 17 December 2008

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.102.125502

©2009 American Physical Society

Synopsis

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Turning one way

Published 23 March 2009

Molecular dynamics simulations unveil an example of dynamical symmetry breaking at the nanoscale.

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Authors & Affiliations

X. H. Zhang1,2, G. E. Santoro1,2,3, U. Tartaglino2,1, and E. Tosatti1,2,3

  • 1International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Via Beirut 2-4, I-34014 Trieste, Italy
  • 2CNR-INFM Democritos National Simulation Center, Via Beirut 2-4, I-34014 Trieste, Italy
  • 3International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), P.O. Box 586, I-34014 Trieste, Italy

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Issue

Vol. 102, Iss. 12 — 27 March 2009

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