Statistical thermodynamics of anharmonic carbon chains
Phys. Rev. B 112, 205417 – Published 14 November, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/d9qp-vm1z
Abstract
We develop an analytical and self-consistent thermodynamic model for carbyne using the unsymmetrized self-consistent field theory. By deriving closed-form expressions for the Helmholtz and Gibbs free energies, as well as vibrational and response functions, we analyze the temperature dependence of self-consistent potentials and one-particle distributions. Our results demonstrate that quantum and classical anharmonicities reshape the effective potential landscape, driving spontaneous symmetry breaking and a thermodynamic phase transition from cumulene to polyyne. The resulting analytical phase diagram reveals how thermal effects govern the structural stability of one-dimensional carbon chains.