Anomalous thermal properties of a harmonic chain with correlated isotopic disorder

Abstract

We analyse the thermal properties of a harmonic chain with weak correlated disorder. With the use of a perturbative approach we derive analytical expressions for the time-evolution of the chain temperature and of the heat flow when both ends of the chain are coupled to heat baths. Our analytical and numerical results demonstrate that specific long-range correlations of the isotopic disorder can suppress or enhance the vibrational modes in pre-defined frequency windows. In this way one can arrange a frequency-selective heat flow through disordered chains.

15 pages, 4 figures