MOTION OF CHARGED SOLITON IN POLYACETYLENE DUE TO ELECTRIC-FIELD .4. DAMPING OF SOLITON VELOCITY

We study velocity damping of a moving soliton in polyacetylene by using numerical simulations within Su, Schrieffer and Heeger's model. The system is assumed to be at absolute zero of temperature and involves no impurity. In order to get an initial velocity the soliton is accelerated by applying an external electric field. The relaxation time of the soliton velocity has a minimum value when the initial velocity is around the sound velocity of this system. This is a result of the interaction between the moving soliton and the acoustic phonons emitted by the soliton itself. We find that the damping of the soliton velocity is caused by the energy transfer from the moving soliton to the acoustic phonons. The transfer is enhanced when the soliton is surrounded by the acoustic phonons.