Multi mode phonon softening in two-dimensional electron-lattice system

Phonon dispersion in a two-dimensional electron-lattice system described by a two-dimensional square-lattice version of Su-Schrieffer-Heeger's model and having the half-filled electronic band is studied theoretically at temperatures higher than the mean field critical temperature of the Peierls transition. When the temperature is lowered from the higher region down to the critical one, softening of multiple phonon modes which have wave vectors equal to the nesting vector Q = (pi/a, pi/a) with a the lattice constant or parallel to Q is observed. Although both of the transverse and longitudinal modes are softened at the critical temperature in the case of the wave vector equal to Q, only the transverse modes are softened for other wave vectors parallel to Q. This behavior is consistent with the Peierls distortions at lower temperatures.