9 research outputs found
Growth, microstructure, and failure of crazes in glassy polymers
We report on an extensive study of craze formation in glassy polymers.
Molecular dynamics simulations of a coarse-grained bead-spring model were
employed to investigate the molecular level processes during craze nucleation,
widening, and breakdown for a wide range of temperature, polymer chain length
, entanglement length and strength of adhesive interactions between
polymer chains. Craze widening proceeds via a fibril-drawing process at
constant drawing stress. The extension ratio is determined by the entanglement
length, and the characteristic length of stretched chain segments in the
polymer craze is . In the craze, tension is mostly carried by the
covalent backbone bonds, and the force distribution develops an exponential
tail at large tensile forces. The failure mode of crazes changes from
disentanglement to scission for , and breakdown through scission
is governed by large stress fluctuations. The simulations also reveal
inconsistencies with previous theoretical models of craze widening that were
based on continuum level hydrodynamics
Photonic molecules and spectral engineering
This chapter reviews the fundamental optical properties and applications of
pho-tonic molecules (PMs) - photonic structures formed by electromagnetic
coupling of two or more optical microcavities (photonic atoms). Controllable
interaction between light and matter in photonic atoms can be further modified
and en-hanced by the manipulation of their mutual coupling. Mechanical and
optical tunability of PMs not only adds new functionalities to
microcavity-based optical components but also paves the way for their use as
testbeds for the exploration of novel physical regimes in atomic physics and
quantum optics. Theoretical studies carried on for over a decade yielded novel
PM designs that make possible lowering thresholds of semiconductor microlasers,
producing directional light emission, achieving optically-induced transparency,
and enhancing sensitivity of microcavity-based bio-, stress- and
rotation-sensors. Recent advances in material science and nano-fabrication
techniques make possible the realization of optimally-tuned PMs for cavity
quantum electrodynamic experiments, classical and quantum information
processing, and sensing.Comment: A review book chapter: 29 pages, 19 figure
Strategies for Controlled Placement of Nanoscale Building Blocks
The capability of placing individual nanoscale building blocks on exact substrate locations in a controlled manner is one of the key requirements to realize future electronic, optical, and magnetic devices and sensors that are composed of such blocks. This article reviews some important advances in the strategies for controlled placement of nanoscale building blocks. In particular, we will overview template assisted placement that utilizes physical, molecular, or electrostatic templates, DNA-programmed assembly, placement using dielectrophoresis, approaches for non-close-packed assembly of spherical particles, and recent development of focused placement schemes including electrostatic funneling, focused placement via molecular gradient patterns, electrodynamic focusing of charged aerosols, and others
Hydrogen-trapping mechanisms in nanostructured steels
Nanoprecipitation-hardened martensitic bearing steels (100Cr6) and carbide-free nanobainitic steels (superbainite) are examined. The nature of the hydrogen traps present in both is determined via the melt extraction and thermal desorption analysis techniques. It is demonstrated that 100Cr6 can admit large amounts of hydrogen, which is loosely bound to dislocations around room temperature; however, with the precipitation of fine coherent vanadium carbide traps, hydrogen can be immobilized. In the case of carbide-free nanostructured bainite, retained austenite/bainite interfaces act as hydrogen traps, while concomitantly retained austenite limits hydrogen absorption. In nanostructured steels where active hydrogen traps are present, it is shown that the total hydrogen absorbed is proportional to the trapped hydrogen, indicating that melt extraction may be employed to quantify trapping capacity