Open research towards the discovery of room-temperature superconductors.
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The Dynamic Structure Factor (S(Q,ω)) is like a movie of how atoms move in a material. Instead of just knowing where atoms are, it tells us how they move together over time:
Q represents the wavelength of atomic motions (like ripples in water)
ω represents how fast these motions happen (their frequency)
The strength of S(Q,ω) at different points tells us which motions are most important
Superconductivity emerges from a "dance" between electrons and atomic vibrations. The DSF helps us see if the atoms are moving in ways that support this dance:
Soft Phonon Modes:
These are like "sweet spots" where atoms can vibrate very easily
Show up as strong signals at low ω for specific Q values
Often indicate strong electron-phonon coupling
Collective Motions:
The DSF reveals how groups of atoms move together
Certain patterns of collective motion can help electrons pair up
Known superconductors show characteristic patterns
From AIMD, we get:
Atomic positions over time
How atoms move and vibrate at room temperature
Then we:
Calculate how density varies in space and time
Transform this into Q and ω space (using Fourier transforms)
Look for patterns in the resulting S(Q,ω)
Imagine looking at a heat map where:
X-axis is Q (wavelength of motions)
Y-axis is ω (frequency)
Color intensity shows how strong each type of motion is
Key signatures:
Strong bands at specific Q values
Softening (intensity moving toward low ω)
Patterns matching known superconductors
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