Do acoustic phonons disappear in charge density wave states?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the behavior of acoustic phonons in charge density wave (CDW) states, particularly in the context of mean-field theory. It highlights the Kohn anomaly in acoustic phonon dispersion as the temperature approaches the CDW transition temperature, where phonons condense at momentum Q=2kF. The conversation raises critical questions about the existence of gapless acoustic phonons in incommensurate CDW phases and whether they merge into phasons and amplitudons. The participants emphasize the importance of understanding the phonon spectrum to clarify these concepts.

PREREQUISITES
  • Mean-field theory of charge density waves (CDW)
  • Kohn anomaly in acoustic phonon dispersion
  • Phonon spectrum analysis
  • Understanding of phasons and amplitudons
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the implications of Kohn anomalies in acoustic phonon behavior
  • Study the phonon spectrum in charge density wave systems
  • Explore the relationship between phasons and acoustic phonons in CDW phases
  • Investigate the effects of temperature on phonon condensation in CDW materials
USEFUL FOR

Physicists, materials scientists, and researchers studying charge density waves, phonon dynamics, and condensed matter physics will benefit from this discussion.

sfman
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TL;DR
Do acoustic phonons disappear in charge density wave states?
In most standard exposition of (the mean-field theory of) charge density wave (CDW), phase and amplitude fluctuations are introduced as the collective excitations. Kohn anomaly in the acoustic phonon dispersion is also mentioned as temperature goes from the above till the CDW transition temperature, at which phonons condense at momentum Q=2kF.

But where are the phonons deep in, say, an incommensurate CDW phase?
Despite the condensation, are there still gapless acoustic phonons in the CDW phase, in addition to the phasons?
Or acoustic/optical phonons disappear and merge into the phasons and amplitudons?

Intuitively, I tend to think phason φ in cos(Q⋅x+φ) as a generalized acoutic phonon since phonon seems to be just setting Q=0 as a special case for normal solids.
 
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Please provide more background to your question. Not everyone has worked in your subfield. Of the many confusing points, I don't know what you means when you say phonons condense. Could you post a phonon spectrum to illustrate what you are thinking because I also don't know what you mean by gapless acoustic phonons.

One thing I can say is that acoustic phonons are so named because the low Q phonon spectrum is linear and the slope is a measure of the speed of sound of the material. If these didn't exist you would have an unphysical sample that wouldn't transmit sound.
 

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