Anharmonicity and its significance to non-Ohmic electric conduction

Abstract

We provide here a thorough analysis of the interplay between anharmonic lattice dynamics (with exponential repulsion between units) and electric conduction in a driven-dissipative electrically charged one-dimensional system. First, we delineate the ranges of parameter values where, respectively, subsonic and supersonic wave solitons are possible along the lattice. Then, we study the consequences of the soliton-mediated coupling of light negative to heavy positive charges (lattice units). In the presence of an external electric field we obtain the current-field characteristics for a wide range of values of all parameters defining the system. Finally, we discuss the conditions for an Ohmic-non-Ohmic transition of the electric current as the electric field strength is varied.