09.04.2016
We are very pleased to introduce this special issue of Letters on Materials which includes the papers presented at the International Workshop «Discrete Breathers in Crystals» held in Ufa, Russia between September 21 and 25, 2015 and was hosted by the Institute for Metals Superplactisity Problems of Russian Academy of Sciences. The aim of the conference was to give an overview of the state-of-the-art in the study of discrete breathers (DB) in crystals, including recent developments in theory, molecular dynamics simulations, first-principles modeling and experimental studies. Emphasis was placed on the role of DB in the formation of physical and mechanical properties of crystals. In discussions, the concept of localized anharmonic vibrations (LAV) has emerged as a unifying term for a variety of spatially localized large-amplitude excitations in solids, including DB, modes localized on defects, etc. The organizing committee of the workshop included prominent scientist in this area from Belgium, China, Estonia, Germany, Japan, Russia, Singapore, Spain, and Ukraine. The Special Issue includes 18 papers and it provides the permanent record of what was presented at the Workshop. We would like to express our sincere thanks to all participants of the Workshop, we are also indebted to those who served as chairmen. Last but not least we would like to thank IMSP RAS for hosting the Workshop and the Russian Foundation for Basis Research for partial financial support, grant 15-02-20657. Without their support the Workshop could not have been the success that it was. Also we would like to express our gratitude to all the organizers or the Workshop, whose work and dedication made it possible.
Editors of the Special Issue: J. F. R. Archilla, S.V. Dmitriev, F. M. Russell