4,506 research outputs found
Elasticity of Stiff Polymer Networks
We study the elasticity of a two-dimensional random network of rigid rods
(``Mikado model''). The essential features incorporated into the model are the
anisotropic elasticity of the rods and the random geometry of the network. We
show that there are three distinct scaling regimes, characterized by two
distinct length scales on the elastic backbone. In addition to a critical
rigidiy percolation region and a homogeneously elastic regime we find a novel
intermediate scaling regime, where elasticity is dominated by bending
deformations.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Long-range effects in granular avalanching
We introduce a model for granular flow in a one-dimensional rice pile that
incorporates rolling effects through a long-range rolling probability for the
individual rice grains proportional to , being the distance
traveled by a grain in a single topling event. The exponent controls the
average rolling distance. We have shown that the crossover from power law to
stretched exponential behaviors observed experimentally in the granular
dynamics of rice piles can be well described as a long-range effect resulting
from a change in the transport properties of individual grains. We showed that
stretched exponential avalanche distributions can be associated with a
long-range regime for where the average rolling distance grows as a
power law with the system size, while power law distributions are associated
with a short range regime for , where the average rolling distance is
independent of the system size.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure
Ab Initio Study of Screw Dislocations in Mo and Ta: A new picture of plasticity in bcc transition metals
We report the first ab initio density-functional study of screw
dislocations cores in the bcc transition metals Mo and Ta. Our results suggest
a new picture of bcc plasticity with symmetric and compact dislocation cores,
contrary to the presently accepted picture based on continuum and interatomic
potentials. Core energy scales in this new picture are in much better agreement
with the Peierls energy barriers to dislocation motion suggested by
experiments.Comment: 3 figures, 3 table
Switching between different vortex states in 2-dimensional easy-plane magnets due to an ac magnetic field
Using a discrete model of 2-dimensional easy-plane classical ferromagnets, we
propose that a rotating magnetic field in the easy plane can switch a vortex
from one polarization to the opposite one if the amplitude exceeds a threshold
value, but the backward process does not occur. Such switches are indeed
observed in computer simulations.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. Let
Open Science in Software Engineering
Open science describes the movement of making any research artefact available
to the public and includes, but is not limited to, open access, open data, and
open source. While open science is becoming generally accepted as a norm in
other scientific disciplines, in software engineering, we are still struggling
in adapting open science to the particularities of our discipline, rendering
progress in our scientific community cumbersome. In this chapter, we reflect
upon the essentials in open science for software engineering including what
open science is, why we should engage in it, and how we should do it. We
particularly draw from our experiences made as conference chairs implementing
open science initiatives and as researchers actively engaging in open science
to critically discuss challenges and pitfalls, and to address more advanced
topics such as how and under which conditions to share preprints, what
infrastructure and licence model to cover, or how do it within the limitations
of different reviewing models, such as double-blind reviewing. Our hope is to
help establishing a common ground and to contribute to make open science a norm
also in software engineering.Comment: Camera-Ready Version of a Chapter published in the book on
Contemporary Empirical Methods in Software Engineering; fixed layout issue
with side-note
Slowly driven sandpile formation with granular mixtures
We introduce a one-dimensional sandpile model with different particle types and an infinitesimal driving rate. The parameters for the model are the N^2 critical slopes for one type of particle on top of another. The model is trivial when N=1, but for N=2 we observe four broad classes of sandpile structure in different regions of the parameter space. We describe and explain the behaviour of each of these classes, giving quantitative analysis wherever possible. The behaviour of sandpiles with N>2 essentially consists of combinations of these four classes. We investigate the model's robustness and highlight the key areas that any experiment designed to reproduce these results should focus on
Coarsening and Slow-Dynamics in Granular Compaction
We address the problem of the microscopic reorganization of a granular medium
under a compaction process in the framework of Tetris-like models. We point out
the existence of regions of spatial organization which we call domains, and
study their time evolution. It turns out that after an initial transient, most
of the activity of the system is concentrated on the boundaries between
domains. One can then describe the compaction phenomenon as a coarsening
process for the domains, and a progressive reduction of domain boundaries. We
discuss the link between the coarsening process and the slow dynamics in the
framework of a model of active walkers on active substrates.Comment: Revtex 4 pages, 4 figures, in press in PRL. More info
http://axtnt3.phys.uniroma1.it/Tetri
Shear-banding in a lyotropic lamellar phase, Part 2: Temporal fluctuations
We analyze the temporal fluctuations of the flow field associated to a
shear-induced transition in a lyotropic lamellar phase: the layering transition
of the onion texture. In the first part of this work [Salmon et al., submitted
to Phys. Rev. E], we have evidenced banded flows at the onset of this
shear-induced transition which are well accounted for by the classical picture
of shear-banding. In the present paper, we focus on the temporal fluctuations
of the flow field recorded in the coexistence domain. These striking dynamics
are very slow (100--1000s) and cannot be due to external mechanical noise.
Using velocimetry coupled to structural measurements, we show that these
fluctuations are due to a motion of the interface separating the two
differently sheared bands. Such a motion seems to be governed by the
fluctuations of , the local stress at the interface between the
two bands. Our results thus provide more evidence for the relevance of the
classical mechanical approach of shear-banding even if the mechanism leading to
the fluctuations of remains unclear
Entanglement Measures for Single- and Multi-Reference Correlation Effects
Electron correlation effects are essential for an accurate ab initio
description of molecules. A quantitative a priori knowledge of the single- or
multi-reference nature of electronic structures as well as of the dominant
contributions to the correlation energy can facilitate the decision regarding
the optimum quantum chemical method of choice. We propose concepts from quantum
information theory as orbital entanglement measures that allow us to evaluate
the single- and multi-reference character of any molecular structure in a given
orbital basis set. By studying these measures we can detect possible artifacts
of small active spaces.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figure
Introduction to protein folding for physicists
The prediction of the three-dimensional native structure of proteins from the
knowledge of their amino acid sequence, known as the protein folding problem,
is one of the most important yet unsolved issues of modern science. Since the
conformational behaviour of flexible molecules is nothing more than a complex
physical problem, increasingly more physicists are moving into the study of
protein systems, bringing with them powerful mathematical and computational
tools, as well as the sharp intuition and deep images inherent to the physics
discipline. This work attempts to facilitate the first steps of such a
transition. In order to achieve this goal, we provide an exhaustive account of
the reasons underlying the protein folding problem enormous relevance and
summarize the present-day status of the methods aimed to solving it. We also
provide an introduction to the particular structure of these biological
heteropolymers, and we physically define the problem stating the assumptions
behind this (commonly implicit) definition. Finally, we review the 'special
flavor' of statistical mechanics that is typically used to study the
astronomically large phase spaces of macromolecules. Throughout the whole work,
much material that is found scattered in the literature has been put together
here to improve comprehension and to serve as a handy reference.Comment: 53 pages, 18 figures, the figures are at a low resolution due to
arXiv restrictions, for high-res figures, go to http://www.pabloechenique.co
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