141 research outputs found
Size effects in dislocation depinning models for plastic yield
Typically, the plastic yield stress of a sample is determined from a
stress-strain curve by defining a yield strain and reading off the stress
required to attain it. However, it is not a priori clear that yield strengths
of microscale samples measured this way should display the correct finite size
scaling. Here we study plastic yield as a depinning transition of a 1+1
dimensional interface, and consider how finite size effects depend on the
choice of yield strain, as well as the presence of hardening and the strength
of elastic coupling. Our results indicate that in sufficiently large systems,
the choice of yield strain is unimportant, but in smaller systems one must take
care to avoid spurious effects.Comment: 7 pages, 8 figure
Diversity enabling equilibration: disorder and the ground state in artificial spin ice
We report a novel approach to the question of whether and how the ground
state can be achieved in square artificial spin ices where frustration is
incomplete. We identify two types of disorder: quenched disorder in the island
response to fields and disorder in the sequence of driving fields. Numerical
simulations show that quenched disorder can lead to final states with lower
energy, and disorder in the driving fields always lowers the final energy
attained by the system. We use a network picture to understand these two
effects: disorder in island responses creates new dynamical pathways, and
disorder in driving fields allows more pathways to be followed.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure
Disorder regimes and equivalence of disorder types in artificial spin ice
The field-induced dynamics of artificial spin ice are determined in part by
interactions between magnetic islands, and the switching characteristics of
each island. Disorder in either of these affects the response to applied
fields. Numerical simulations are used to show that disorder effects are
determined primarily by the strength of disorder relative to inter-island
interactions, rather than by the type of disorder. Weak and strong disorder
regimes exist and can be defined in a quantitative way.Comment: The following article has been submitted to J. Appl. Phys. After it
is published, it will be found at http://link.aip.org/link/?ja
Vertex dynamics in finite two dimensional square spin ices
Local magnetic ordering in artificial spin ices is discussed from the point
of view of how geometrical frustration controls dynamics and the approach to
steady state. We discuss the possibility of using a particle picture based on
vertex configurations to interpret time evolution of magnetic configurations.
Analysis of possible vertex processes allows us to anticipate different
behaviors for open and closed edges and the existence of different field
regimes. Numerical simulations confirm these results and also demonstrate the
importance of correlations and long range interactions in understanding
particle population evolution. We also show that a mean field model of vertex
dynamics gives important insights into finite size effects.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures; v2: minor changes to text and figures. Accepted
to Phys. Rev. Let
Protein accumulation in the endoplasmic reticulum as a non-equilibrium phase transition
Several neurological disorders are associated with the aggregation of
aberrant proteins, often localized in intracellular organelles such as the
endoplasmic reticulum. Here we study protein aggregation kinetics by mean-field
reactions and three dimensional Monte carlo simulations of diffusion-limited
aggregation of linear polymers in a confined space, representing the
endoplasmic reticulum. By tuning the rates of protein production and
degradation, we show that the system undergoes a non-equilibrium phase
transition from a physiological phase with little or no polymer accumulation to
a pathological phase characterized by persistent polymerization. A combination
of external factors accumulating during the lifetime of a patient can thus
slightly modify the phase transition control parameters, tipping the balance
from a long symptomless lag phase to an accelerated pathological development.
The model can be successfully used to interpret experimental data on
amyloid-\b{eta} clearance from the central nervous system
Avoidance and Coalescence of Delamination Patterns
Delamination of coatings and thin films from substrates generates a
fascinating variety of patterns, from circular blisters to wrinkles and
labyrinth domains, in a way that is not completely understood. We report on
large-scale numerical simulations of the universal problem of avoidance and
coalescence of delamination wrinkles, focusing on a case study of graphene
sheets on patterned substrates. By nucleating and growing wrinkles in a
controlled way, we are able to characterize how their interactions, mediated by
long-range stress fields, determine their formation and morphology. We also
study how the interplay between geometry and stresses drives a universal
transition from conformation to delamination when sheets are deposited on
particle-decorated substrates. Our results are directly applicable to strain
engineering of graphene and also uncover universal phenomena observed at all
scales, as for example in geomembrane deposition
Avalanches, loading and finite size effects in 2D amorphous plasticity: results from a finite element model
Crystalline plasticity is strongly interlinked with dislocation mechanics and
nowadays is relatively well understood. Concepts and physical models of plastic
deformation in amorphous materials on the other hand - where the concept of
linear lattice defects is not applicable - still are lagging behind. We
introduce an eigenstrain-based finite element lattice model for simulations of
shear band formation and strain avalanches. Our model allows us to study the
influence of surfaces and finite size effects on the statistics of avalanches.
We find that even with relatively complex loading conditions and open boundary
conditions, critical exponents describing avalanche statistics are unchanged,
which validates the use of simpler scalar lattice-based models to study these
phenomena.Comment: Journal of Statistical Mechanics: Theory and Experiment, 2015, P0201
Indigenous online creative responses to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in Western Australia
In response to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, many communities of endangered Indigenous languages have utilised digital technologies and created online language resources with renewed motivation. In this article we explore the ways that Noongar community members have shifted, adapted and persisted in creating new language revitalisation resources for their endangered Aboriginal language, describing three case studies of video content created and shared online through social media as localised responses to the pressing need for easily produced, accessible and engaging online approaches to support Indigenous communities and their languages
‘Keep the music going’: How the isolation tour 2020 maintained community and cultural connectedness during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown in Western Australia
The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent social isolation measures had a profound impact on communities worldwide. In regional and remote Western Australia, the use of online platforms has become increasingly important for maintaining social and emotional well-being. This article examines the role of ‘The Isolation Tour 2020’ Facebook page in providing a lifeline for its mostly Aboriginal audience to stay connected with culture, Country, and one another during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown in Western Australia. The authors conducted an in-depth interview with one of the administrators of the page and supplemented this with a thematic analysis of publicly available Facebook data. Data were analysed using NVivo qualitative analysis software and common themes were identified. The findings show that ‘The Isolation Tour 2020’ provided an effective virtual platform for people to interact with loved ones and feel a sense of belonging and comfort in the uncertainty of the pandemic. This research highlights the importance of online spaces for supporting social and emotional well-being during extended periods of social isolation and offers insights into how similar initiatives can be supported in future
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