1,296 research outputs found

    Recurrence and higher ergodic properties for quenched random Lorentz tubes in dimension bigger than two

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    We consider the billiard dynamics in a non-compact set of R^d that is constructed as a bi-infinite chain of translated copies of the same d-dimensional polytope. A random configuration of semi-dispersing scatterers is placed in each copy. The ensemble of dynamical systems thus defined, one for each global realization of the scatterers, is called `quenched random Lorentz tube'. Under some fairly general conditions, we prove that every system in the ensemble is hyperbolic and almost every system is recurrent, ergodic, and enjoys some higher chaotic properties.Comment: Final version for J. Stat. Phys., 18 pages, 4 figure

    Field-induced structure transformation in electrorheological solids

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    We have computed the local electric field in a body-centered tetragonal (BCT) lattice of point dipoles via the Ewald-Kornfeld formulation, in an attempt to examine the effects of a structure transformation on the local field strength. For the ground state of an electrorheological solid of hard spheres, we identified a novel structure transformation from the BCT to the face-centered cubic (FCC) lattices by changing the uniaxial lattice constant c under the hard sphere constraint. In contrast to the previous results, the local field exhibits a non-monotonic transition from BCT to FCC. As c increases from the BCT ground state, the local field initially decreases rapidly towards the isotropic value at the body-centered cubic lattice, decreases further, reaching a minimum value and increases, passing through the isotropic value again at an intermediate lattice, reaches a maximum value and finally decreases to the FCC value. An experimental realization of the structure transformation is suggested. Moreover, the change in the local field can lead to a generalized Clausius-Mossotti equation for the BCT lattices.Comment: Submitted to Phys. Rev.

    Mass and Spin Renormalization in Lorentz Electrodynamics

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    A new, relativistically covariant, massive Lorentz Electrodynamics (LED) is presented in which the bare particle has a finite positive bare rest mass and moment of inertia. The particle's electromagnetic self-interaction renormalizes its mass and spin. Most crucially, the renormalized particle is a soliton: after any scattering process its rest mass and spin magnitude are dynamically restored to their pre-scattering values. This guarantees that ``an electron remains an electron,'' poetically speaking. A renormalization flow study of the limit of vanishing bare rest mass is conducted for this model. This limit yields a purely electromagnetic classical field theory with ultra-violet cutoff at about the electron's Compton wavelength! The renormalized limit model matches the empirical electron data as orderly as one can hope for at the level of Lorentz theory. In particular, no superluminal equatorial gyration speeds occur.Comment: LaTeX, 70 pages, 2 eps figures, submitted; a small computational blunder in Eq. (10.25)ff of earlier version has been correcte

    Strong signatures of radiation reaction below the radiation dominated regime

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    The influence of radiation reaction (RR) on multiphoton Thomson scattering by an electron colliding head-on with a strong laser beam is investigated in a new regime, in which the momentum transferred on average to the electron by the laser pulse approximately compensates the one initially prepared. This equilibrium is shown to be far more sensitive to the influence of RR than previously studied scenarios. As a consequence RR can be experimentally investigated with currently available laser systems and the underlying widely discussed theoretical equations become testable for the first time.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

    Effects of geometric anisotropy on local field distribution: Ewald-Kornfeld formulation

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    We have applied the Ewald-Kornfeld formulation to a tetragonal lattice of point dipoles, in an attempt to examine the effects of geometric anisotropy on the local field distribution. The various problems encountered in the computation of the conditionally convergent summation of the near field are addressed and the methods of overcoming them are discussed. The results show that the geometric anisotropy has a significant impact on the local field distribution. The change in the local field can lead to a generalized Clausius-Mossotti equation for the anisotropic case.Comment: Accepted for publications, Journal of Physics: Condensed Matte

    Absence of a consistent classical equation of motion for a mass-renormalized point charge

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    The restrictions of analyticity, relativistic (Born) rigidity, and negligible O(a) terms involved in the evaluation of the self electromagnetic force on an extended charged sphere of radius "a" are explicitly revealed and taken into account in order to obtain a classical equation of motion of the extended charge that is both causal and conserves momentum-energy. Because the power-series expansion used in the evaluation of the self force becomes invalid during transition time intervals immediately following the application and termination of an otherwise analytic externally applied force, transition forces must be included during these transition time intervals to remove the noncausal pre-acceleration and pre-deceleration from the solutions to the equation of motion without the transition forces. For the extended charged sphere, the transition forces can be chosen to maintain conservation of momentum-energy in the causal solutions to the equation of motion within the restrictions of relativistic rigidity and negligible O(a) terms under which the equation of motion is derived. However, it is shown that renormalization of the electrostatic mass to a finite value as the radius of the charge approaches zero introduces a violation of momentum-energy conservation into the causal solutions to the equation of motion of the point charge if the magnitude of the external force becomes too large. That is, the causal classical equation of motion of a point charge with renormalized mass experiences a high acceleration catastrophe.Comment: 13 pages, No figure

    Optical extinction, refractive index, and multiple scattering for suspensions of interacting colloidal particles

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    We provide a general microscopic theory of the scattering cross-section and of the refractive index for a system of interacting colloidal particles, exact at second order in the molecular polarizabilities. In particular: a) we show that the structural features of the suspension are encoded into the forward scattered field by multiple scattering effects, whose contribution is essential for the so-called "optical theorem" to hold in the presence of interactions; b) we investigate the role of radiation reaction on light extinction; c) we discuss our results in the framework of effective medium theories, presenting a general result for the effective refractive index valid, whatever the structural properties of the suspension, in the limit of particles much larger than the wavelength; d) by discussing strongly-interacting suspensions, we unravel subtle anomalous dispersion effects for the suspension refractive index.Comment: Submitted to Journal of Chemical Physics 37 pages, 4 figure

    Snell's Law from an Elementary Particle Viewpoint

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    Snell's law of light deflection between media with different indices of refraction is usually discussed in terms of the Maxwell electromagnetic wave theory. Snell's law may also be derived from a photon beam theory of light rays. This latter particle physics view is by far the most simple one for understanding the laws of refraction.Comment: ReVTeX Format 2 *.eps figure
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