Transversal-rotational and zero group velocity modes in tunable magneto-granular phononic crystals

We report on the design and operation of a 1D magneto-granular phononic crystal composed of a chain of steel spherical beads on top of permanent magnets. The magnetic field of the permanent magnets induces forces in the granular structure. By changing its strength, we can tune the dynamic response of the granular structure. We present experimental results with evidence of coupled transversal-rotational modes, and zero group velocities modes. These observations are well supported by a proposed model taking into account the mechanical coupling between the beads and the magnets by linear stiffnesses and including all degrees of freedom in translations and rotations

The basis of nonlocal curvature invariants in quantum gravity theory

A complete basis of nonlocal invariants in quantum gravity theory is built to third order in spacetime curvature and matter-field strengths. The nonlocal identities are obtained which reduce this basis for manifolds with dimensionality $2\omega<6$. The present results are used in heat-kernel theory, theory of gauge fields and serve as a basis for the model-independent approach to quantum gravity and, in particular, for the study of nonlocal vacuum effects in the gravitational collapse problem.Comment: 28 pages, REVTeX, Alberta Thy 14-9

Nonlinear Hysteretic Torsional Waves

We theoretically study and experimentally report the propagation of nonlinear hysteretic torsional pulses in a vertical granular chain made of cm-scale, self-hanged magnetic beads. As predicted by contact mechanics, the torsional coupling between two beads is found nonlinear hysteretic. This results in a nonlinear pulse distortion essentially different from the distortion predicted by classical nonlinearities, and in a complex dynamic response depending on the history of the wave particle angular velocity. Both are consistent with the predictions of purely hysteretic nonlinear elasticity and the Preisach-Mayergoyz hysteresis model, providing the opportunity to study the phenomenon of nonlinear dynamic hysteresis in the absence of other type of material nonlinearities. The proposed configuration reveals a plethora of interesting phenomena including giant amplitude-dependent attenuation, short term memory as well as dispersive properties. Thus, it could find interesting applications in nonlinear wave control devices such as strong amplitude-dependent filters

Asymptotic behaviours of the heat kernel in covariant perturbation theory

The trace of the heat kernel is expanded in a basis of nonlocal curvature invariants of $N$th order. The coefficients of this expansion (the nonlocal form factors) are calculated to third order in the curvature inclusive. The early-time and late-time asymptotic behaviours of the trace of the heat kernel are presented with this accuracy. The late-time behaviour gives the criterion of analyticity of the effective action in quantum field theory. The latter point is exemplified by deriving the effective action in two dimensions.Comment: 22 pages, REVTeX, Alberta Thy 45-9

Ultrafast Acousto-Plasmonics in Gold Nanoparticles Superlattice

We report the investigation of the generation and detection of GHz coherent acoustic phonons in plasmonic gold nanoparticles superlattices (NPS). The experiments have been performed from an optical femtosecond pump-probe scheme across the optical plasmon resonance of the superlattice. Our experiments allow to estimate the collective elastic response (sound velocity) of the NPS as well as an estimate of the nano-contact elastic stiffness. It appears that the light-induced coherent acoustic phonon pulse has a typical in-depth spatial extension of about 45 nm which is roughly 4 times the optical skin depth in gold. The modeling of the transient optical reflectivity indicates that the mechanism of phonon generation is achieved through ultrafast heating of the NPS assisted by light excitation of the volume plasmon. These results demonstrate how it is possible to map the photon-electron-phonon interaction in subwavelength nanostructures

Thermal radiation of conducting nanoparticles

The thermal radiation of small conducting particles was investigated in the region where the Stephan-Boltzmann law is not valid and strongly overestimates radiation losses. The new criterion for the particle size, at which black body radiation law fails, was formulated. The approach is based on the magnetic particle polarization, which is valid until very small sizes (cluster size) where due to drop of particle conductivity the electric polarization prevails over the magnetic one. It was also shown that the radiation power of clusters, estimated on the basis of the experimental data, is lower than that given by the Stephan-Boltzmann law.Comment: 12 pages, 5 figures, 1 tabl