Generation of phase nuclei by solitons of the new “undulator” type in martensitic phase transitions of crystalline materials

The microdynamics of large-amplitude nonlinear lattice vibrations of plutonium and uranium materials has been investigated at high reactor temperatures in the ranges of martensitic phase transitions. Topologically new large-amplitude solitons of the “undulator” type have been revealed. Transverse and longitudinal “undulator” solitons in crystals with hexagonal and cubic symmetry, depending on the direction of motion, have different kinematic and amplitude characteristics, which differ from the characteristics of the previously known solitons. The transverse “undulator” solitons, like electrons in undulators, are observed with periodic atomic displacements orthogonal to the direction of soliton propagation. The longitudinal “undulator” solitons with displacements of atoms in the direction of soliton propagation are characterized by periodic delays with two-step velocities on the trajectory in a certain analogy with two-period engineering undulator devices. It has been shown that, at high energies, such “undulator” solitons of two types generate nuclei of a new phase in early stages of structural phase transitions.