KINK DYNAMICS AND KINK-PAIR NUCLEATION IN THE DISCRETE FRENKEL-KONTOROVA MODEL

Statistical dynamical properties of the Frenkel-Kontorova model in an external field are studied with main emphasis put on kink-pair nucleation and kink movement at low temperatures. Our method of constraint(s) together with the transition state theory make it possible to determine the N-dimensional saddle-point configuration and to obtain velocity for kink movement, rate for kink-pair nucleation, and consequently velocity for chain propagation. Generalization of the method used in this paper is also presented.