Discrete Nonlinear Breathing Modes in Carbon Nanotubes

Abstract

We study large-amplitude oscillations of carbon nanotubes with chiralities $(m,0)$ and $(m,m)$ and predict the existence of localized nonlinear modes in the form of {\em discrete breathers}. In nanotubes with the index $(m,0)$ {\em three types} of localized modes can exist, namely longitudinal, radial, and twisting breathers; however only the twisting breathers, or {\em twistons}, are nonradiating nonlinear modes which exist in the frequency gaps of the linear spectrum. Geometry of carbon nanotubes with the index $(m,m)$ allows only the existence of broad radial breathers in a narrow spectral range.