61 research outputs found
From the stress response function (back) to the sandpile `dip'
We relate the pressure `dip' observed at the bottom of a sandpile prepared by
successive avalanches to the stress profile obtained on sheared granular layers
in response to a localized vertical overload. We show that, within a simple
anisotropic elastic analysis, the skewness and the tilt of the response profile
caused by shearing provide a qualitative agreement with the sandpile dip
effect. We conclude that the texture anisotropy produced by the avalanches is
in essence similar to that induced by a simple shearing -- albeit tilted by the
angle of repose of the pile. This work also shows that this response function
technique could be very well adapted to probe the texture of static granular
packing.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figures, accepted version to appear in Eur. Phys. J.
Quantum partition noise of photo-created electron-hole pairs
We show experimentally that even when no bias voltage is applied to a quantum
conductor, the electronic quantum partition noise can be investigated using GHz
radiofrequency irradiation of a reservoir. Using a Quantum Point Contact
configuration as the ballistic conductor we are able to make an accurate
determination of the partition noise Fano factor resulting from the
photo-assisted shot noise. Applying both voltage bias and rf irradiation we are
able to make a definitive quantitative test of the scattering theory of
photo-assisted shot noise.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Footprints in Sand: The Response of a Granular Material to Local Perturbations
We experimentally determine ensemble-averaged responses of granular packings
to point forces, and we compare these results to recent models for force
propagation in a granular material. We used 2D granular arrays consisting of
photoelastic particles: either disks or pentagons, thus spanning the range from
ordered to disordered packings. A key finding is that spatial ordering of the
particles is a key factor in the force response. Ordered packings have a
propagative component that does not occur in disordered packings.Comment: 5 pages, 4 eps figures, Phys. Rev. Lett. 87, 035506 (2001
Stress Transmission through Three-Dimensional Ordered Granular Arrays
We measure the local contact forces at both the top and bottom boundaries of
three-dimensional face-centered-cubic and hexagonal-close-packed granular
crystals in response to an external force applied to a small area at the top
surface. Depending on the crystal structure, we find markedly different results
which can be understood in terms of force balance considerations in the
specific geometry of the crystal. Small amounts of disorder are found to create
additional structure at both the top and bottom surfaces.Comment: 9 pages including 9 figures (many in color) submitted to PR
Shock waves in two-dimensional granular flow: effects of rough walls and polydispersity
We have studied the two-dimensional flow of balls in a small angle funnel,
when either the side walls are rough or the balls are polydisperse. As in
earlier work on monodisperse flows in smooth funnels, we observe the formation
of kinematic shock waves/density waves. We find that for rough walls the flows
are more disordered than for smooth walls and that shock waves generally
propagate more slowly. For rough wall funnel flow, we show that the shock
velocity and frequency obey simple scaling laws. These scaling laws are
consistent with those found for smooth wall flow, but here they are cleaner
since there are fewer packing-site effects and we study a wider range of
parameters. For pipe flow (parallel side walls), rough walls support many shock
waves, while smooth walls exhibit fewer or no shock waves. For funnel flows of
balls with varying sizes, we find that flows with weak polydispersity behave
qualitatively similar to monodisperse flows. For strong polydispersity, scaling
breaks down and the shock waves consist of extended areas where the funnel is
blocked completely.Comment: 11 pages, 15 figures; accepted for PR
Green's function probe of a static granular piling
We present an experiment which aim is to investigate the mechanical
properties of a static granular assembly. The piling is an horizontal 3D
granular layer confined in a box, we apply a localized extra force at the
surface and the spatial distribution of stresses at the bottom is obtained (the
mechanical Green's function). For different types of granular media, we observe
a linear pressure response which profile shows one peak centered at the
vertical of the point of application. The peak's width increases linearly when
increasing the depth. This green function seems to be in -at least- qualitative
agreement with predictions of elastic theory.Comment: 9 pages, 3 .eps figures, submitted to PR
Scale invariance and universality of force networks in static granular matter
Force networks form the skeleton of static granular matter. They are the key
ingredient to mechanical properties, such as stability, elasticity and sound
transmission, which are of utmost importance for civil engineering and
industrial processing. Previous studies have focused on the global structure of
external forces (the boundary condition), and on the probability distribution
of individual contact forces. The disordered spatial structure of the force
network, however, has remained elusive so far. Here we report evidence for
scale invariance of clusters of particles that interact via relatively strong
forces. We analyzed granular packings generated by molecular dynamics
simulations mimicking real granular matter; despite the visual variation, force
networks for various values of the confining pressure and other parameters have
identical scaling exponents and scaling function, and thus determine a
universality class. Remarkably, the flat ensemble of force configurations--a
simple generalization of equilibrium statistical mechanics--belongs to the same
universality class, while some widely studied simplified models do not.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figures; to appear in Natur
Sensitivity of the stress response function to packing preparation
A granular assembly composed of a collection of identical grains may pack
under different microscopic configurations with microscopic features that are
sensitive to the preparation history. A given configuration may also change in
response to external actions such as compression, shearing etc. We show using a
mechanical response function method developed experimentally and numerically,
that the macroscopic stress profiles are strongly dependent on these
preparation procedures. These results were obtained for both two and three
dimensions. The method reveals that, under a given preparation history, the
macroscopic symmetries of the granular material is affected and in most cases
significant departures from isotropy should be observed. This suggests a new
path toward a non-intrusive test of granular material constitutive properties.Comment: 15 pages, 11 figures, some numerical data corrected, to appear in J.
Phys. Cond. Mat. special issue on Granular Materials (M. Nicodemi Editor
Stress response inside perturbed particle assemblies
The effect of structural disorder on the stress response inside three
dimensional particle assemblies is studied using computer simulations of
frictionless sphere packings. Upon applying a localised, perturbative force
within the packings, the resulting {\it Green's} function response is mapped
inside the different assemblies, thus providing an explicit view as to how the
imposed perturbation is transmitted through the packing. In weakly disordered
arrays, the resulting transmission of forces is of the double-peak variety, but
with peak widths scaling linearly with distance from the source of the
perturbation. This behaviour is consistent with an anisotropic elasticity
response profile. Increasing the disorder distorts the response function until
a single-peak response is obtained for fully disordered packings consistent
with an isotropic description.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figure captions To appear in Granular Matte
Adiabatic quantum pump in the presence of external ac voltages
We investigate a quantum pump which in addition to its dynamic pump
parameters is subject to oscillating external potentials applied to the
contacts of the sample. Of interest is the rectification of the ac currents
flowing through the mesoscopic scatterer and their interplay with the quantum
pump effect. We calculate the adiabatic dc current arising under the
simultaneous action of both the quantum pump effect and classical
rectification. In addition to two known terms we find a third novel
contribution which arises from the interference of the ac currents generated by
the external potentials and the ac currents generated by the pump. The
interference contribution renormalizes both the quantum pump effect and the ac
rectification effect. Analysis of this interference effect requires a
calculation of the Floquet scattering matrix beyond the adiabatic approximation
based on the frozen scattering matrix alone. The results permit us to find the
instantaneous current. In addition to the current generated by the oscillating
potentials, and the ac current due to the variation of the charge of the frozen
scatterer, there is a third contribution which represents the ac currents
generated by an oscillating scatterer. We argue that the resulting pump effect
can be viewed as a quantum rectification of the instantaneous ac currents
generated by the oscillating scatterer. These instantaneous currents are an
intrinsic property of a nonstationary scattering process.Comment: 11 pages, 1 figur
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