446 research outputs found
Instability of Myelin Tubes under Dehydration: deswelling of layered cylindrical structures
We report experimental observations of an undulational instability of myelin
figures. Motivated by this, we examine theoretically the deformation and
possible instability of concentric, cylindrical, multi-lamellar membrane
structures. Under conditions of osmotic stress (swelling or dehydration), we
find a stable, deformed state in which the layer deformation is given by \delta
R ~ r^{\sqrt{B_A/(hB)}}, where B_A is the area compression modulus, B is the
inter-layer compression modulus, and h is the repeat distance of layers. Also,
above a finite threshold of dehydration (or osmotic stress), we find that the
system becomes unstable to undulations, first with a characteristic wavelength
of order \sqrt{xi d_0}, where xi is the standard smectic penetration depth and
d_0 is the thickness of dehydrated region.Comment: 5 pages + 3 figures [revtex 4
Lattice Boltzmann Simulations of Liquid Crystal Hydrodynamics
We describe a lattice Boltzmann algorithm to simulate liquid crystal
hydrodynamics. The equations of motion are written in terms of a tensor order
parameter. This allows both the isotropic and the nematic phases to be
considered. Backflow effects and the hydrodynamics of topological defects are
naturally included in the simulations, as are viscoelastic properties such as
shear-thinning and shear-banding.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figures, Revte
The physical determinants of the thickness of lamellar polymer crystals
Based upon kinetic Monte Carlo simulations of crystallization in a simple
polymer model we present a new picture of the mechanism by which the thickness
of lamellar polymer crystals is constrained to a value close to the minimum
thermodynamically stable thickness. This description contrasts with those given
by the two dominant theoretical approaches.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, revte
Measurement of Inverse Pion Photoproduction at Energies Spanning the N(1440) Resonance
Differential cross sections for the process pi^- p -> gamma n have been
measured at Brookhaven National Laboratory's Alternating Gradient Synchrotron
with the Crystal Ball multiphoton spectrometer. Measurements were made at 18
pion momenta from 238 to 748 MeV/c, corresponding to E_gamma for the inverse
reaction from 285 to 769 MeV. The data have been used to evaluate the gamma n
multipoles in the vicinity of the N(1440) resonance. We compare our data and
multipoles to previous determinations. A new three-parameter SAID fit yields 36
+/- 7 (GeV)^-1/2 X 10^-3 for the A^n_1/2 amplitude of the P_11.Comment: 14 pages, 8 figures, submitted to PR
Spinodal-assisted crystallization in polymer melts
Recent experiments in some polymer melts quenched below the melting temperature have reported spinodal kinetics in small-angle x-ray scattering before the emergence of a crystalline structure. To explain these observations we propose that the coupling between density and chain conformation induces a liquid-liquid binodal within the equilibrium liquid-crystalline solid coexistence region. A simple phenomenological theory is developed to illustrate this idea, and several experimentally testable consequences are discussed. Shear is shown to enhance the kinetic role of the hidden binodal
Strong-Segregation Theory of Bicontinuous Phases in Block Copolymers
We compute phase diagrams for starblock copolymers in the
strong-segregation regime as a function of volume fraction , including
bicontinuous phases related to minimal surfaces (G, D, and P surfaces) as
candidate structures. We present the details of a general method to compute
free energies in the strong segregation limit, and demonstrate that the gyroid
G phase is the most nearly stable among the bicontinuous phases considered. We
explore some effects of conformational asymmetry on the topology of the phase
diagram.Comment: 14 pages, latex, 21 figures, to appear in Macromolecule
Soft and non-soft structural transitions in disordered nematic networks
Properties of disordered nematic elastomers and gels are theoretically
investigated with emphasis on the roles of non-local elastic interactions and
crosslinking conditions. Networks originally crosslinked in the isotropic phase
lose their long-range orientational order by the action of quenched random
stresses, which we incorporate into the affine-deformation model of nematic
rubber elasticity. We present a detailed picture of mechanical quasi-Goldstone
modes, which accounts for an almost completely soft polydomain-monodomain (P-M)
transition under strain as well as a ``four-leaf clover'' pattern in
depolarized light scattering intensity. Dynamical relaxation of the domain
structure is studied using a simple model. The peak wavenumber of the structure
factor obeys a power-law-type slow kinetics and goes to zero in true mechanical
equilibrium. The effect of quenched disorder on director fluctuation in the
monodomain state is analyzed. The random frozen contribution to the fluctuation
amplitude dominates the thermal one, at long wavelengths and near the P-M
transition threshold. We also study networks obtained by crosslinking
polydomain nematic polymer melts. The memory of initial director configuration
acts as correlated and strong quenched disorder, which renders the P-M
transition non-soft. The spatial distribution of the elastic free energy is
strongly dehomogenized by external strain, in contrast to the case of
isotropically crosslinked networks.Comment: 19 pages, 15 EPS figure
A molecular dynamics simulation of polymer crystallization from oriented amorphous state
Molecular process of crystallization from an oriented amorphous state was
reproduced by molecular dynamics simulation for a realistic polyethylene model.
Initial oriented amorphous state was obtained by uniaxial drawing an isotropic
glassy state at 100 K. By the temperature jump from 100 K to 330 K, there
occurred the crystallization into the fiber structure, during the process of
which we observed the developments of various order parameters. The real space
image and its Fourier transform revealed that a hexagonally ordered domain was
initially formed, and then highly ordered crystalline state with stacked
lamellae developed after further adjustment of the relative heights of the
chains along their axes.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
Atomistic simulations of dislocation mobility in Al, Ni and Al/Mg alloys
Dislocation velocities and mobilities are studied by Molecular Dynamics
simulations for edge and screw dislocations in pure aluminum and nickel, and
edge dislocations in Al-2.5%Mg and Al-5.0%Mg random substitutional alloys using
EAM potentials. In the pure materials, the velocities of all dislocations are
close to linear with the ratio of (applied stress)/(temperature) at low
velocities, consistent with phonon drag models and quantitative agreement with
experiment is obtained for the mobility in Al. At higher velocities, different
behavior is observed. The edge dislocation velocity remains dependent solely on
(applied stress)/(temperature) up to approximately 1.0 MPa/K, and approaches a
plateau velocity that is lower than the smallest "forbidden" speed predicted by
continuum models. In contrast, above a velocity around half of the smallest
continuum wave speed, the screw dislocation damping has a contribution
dependent solely on stress with a functional form close to that predicted by a
radiation damping model of Eshelby. At the highest applied stresses, there are
several regimes of nearly constant (transonic or supersonic) velocity separated
by velocity gaps in the vicinity of forbidden velocities; various modes of
dislocation disintegration and destabilization were also encountered in this
regime. In the alloy systems, there is a temperature- and
concentration-dependent pinning regime where the velocity drops sharply below
the pure metal velocity. Above the pinning regime but at moderate stresses, the
velocity is again linear in (applied stress)/(temperature) but with a lower
mobility than in the pure metal.Comment: PDF, 30 pages including figures, submitted to Modelling Simul. Mater.
Sci. En
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