Localized moving breathers in a 2D hexagonal lattice

Abstract We show for the first time that highly localized in-plane breathers can propagate in specific directions with minimal lateral spreading in a model 2D hexagonal nonlinear lattice. The lattice is subject to an on-site potential in addition to longitudinal nonlinear interparticle interactions. This study investigates the prediction that stable breather-like solitons could be formed as a result of energetic scattering events in a given layered crystal and would propagate in atomic-chain directions in certain atomic planes. This prediction arose from a long-term study of previously unexplained dark lines in natural crystals of muscovite mica.