Recent studies on a quasi-one-dimensional (q-1D) charge-density-wave (CDW) system, In atomic wires on Si(111), have brought intriguing issues on topological solitons in q-1D systems: the existence of few-atom-sized solitons, chirality of solitons, and the realization of logic exploiting the chirality switching. Using scanning tunneling microscopy and first-principles calculations, we show that the previously reported short' phase-flip defects are In adatoms and thus have non-solitonic nature, resolving the controversy over the existence of highly-localized solitons. The observedlong’ phase-flip and phase-slip defects are genuine solitons with and without chirality, respectively. While achiral solitons (phase-slip defects) can exist on the pristine CDW (8$$2) surface, chiral solitons (`long' phase-flip defects) can not due to their breakage of 8$$2 ordering. The chiral solitons can exist only when they are trapped by In adatoms and constitute a part of a domain wall. The intertwinement of chiral solitons and In adatoms implies the limitations of the previously proposed logic utilizing soliton chirality, but it provides an opportunity to realize this by controlling the In-adatom defect.

中文翻译：

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准一维电荷密度波系统中相互缠绕的孤子和杂质：In / Si（111）

在Si（111）的原子线上的准一维（q-1D）电荷密度波（CDW）系统的最新研究带来了有关q-1D系统中拓扑孤子的有趣问题：原子大小的孤子，孤子的手性以及利用手性切换的逻辑实现。使用扫描隧道显微镜和第一性原理计算，我们证明了先前报道short' phase-flip defects are In adatoms and thus have non-solitonic nature, resolving the controversy over the existence of highly-localized solitons. The observed的长相移和相移缺陷是分别具有和没有手性的真正孤子。虽然手性孤子（相移缺陷）可以存在于原始CDW（8 $ 2）的表面上，但手性孤子（“长相移缺陷”）不能因为其破损8 $而存在。$ 2订购。仅当手性孤子被In原子俘获并构成畴壁的一部分时，它们才能存在。手性孤子与In原子的交织暗示了先前提出的利用孤子手性的逻辑的局限性，但它提供了通过控制In-atom缺陷来实现这一目标的机会。