Localization, disorder and boson peak in an amorphous solid

Abstract

We demonstrate using the classical density functional theory (DFT) model that an intermediate degree of mass localization in the amorphous state is essential for producing the boson peak. The localization length $\ell$ is identified from the width of the gaussian density profile in terms of which the inhomogeneous density n(x) of the solid is expressed in DFT. At a fixed average density, there exists a limiting value $\ell_0$ of $\ell$ signifying a minimum mass localization in the amorphous state. For more delocalized states ($\ell>\ell_0$) occurrence of boson peak is unfeasible.