Solitons in polyacetylene

Abstract
Polyacetylene is presented both as a prototype conducting polymer and as a prototype one-dimensional metal and semiconductor. The concepts of the physics of one-dimensional metals are demonstrated on idealized polyacetylene. A review of the chemical and physical properties of real polyacetylene is given and experimental results on electrical conductivity, magnetic behaviour, optical spectroscopy and photoconductivity are discussed in the context of soliton-like excitations.