Influence of elastic strain on the density of phonon states and characteristics of discrete breathers in the gap of the phonon spectrum of a crystal with a NaCl structure

Appreciable elastic strain may considerably change the physical properties of crystals. This effect underlies the elastic stress technology, which has been intensively developed in recent years. The influence of elastic strain on the density of phonon states and on the properties of discrete breathers in the gap of the phonon spectrum of a crystal with a NaCl structure and a considerable difference between the anion and cation masses is studied using the molecular dynamics method. A number of crystal straining modes are considered. It is shown that the shear components of the strain tensor may significantly change the density of phonon states but slightly influence the frequencies of discrete breathers. Compression (tensile) strains raise (lower) the frequency of discrete breathers with a respective polarization.