892 research outputs found
An elastoplastic theory of dislocations as a physical field theory with torsion
We consider a static theory of dislocations with moment stress in an
anisotropic or isotropic elastoplastical material as a T(3)-gauge theory. We
obtain Yang-Mills type field equations which express the force and the moment
equilibrium. Additionally, we discuss several constitutive laws between the
dislocation density and the moment stress. For a straight screw dislocation, we
find the stress field which is modified near the dislocation core due to the
appearance of moment stress. For the first time, we calculate the localized
moment stress, the Nye tensor, the elastoplastic energy and the modified
Peach-Koehler force of a screw dislocation in this framework. Moreover, we
discuss the straightforward analogy between a screw dislocation and a magnetic
vortex. The dislocation theory in solids is also considered as a
three-dimensional effective theory of gravity.Comment: 38 pages, 6 figures, RevTe
Stress-free states of continuum dislocation fields: Rotations, grain boundaries, and the Nye dislocation density tensor
We derive general relations between grain boundaries, rotational
deformations, and stress-free states for the mesoscale continuum Nye
dislocation density tensor. Dislocations generally are associated with
long-range stress fields. We provide the general form for dislocation density
fields whose stress fields vanish. We explain that a grain boundary (a
dislocation wall satisfying Frank's formula) has vanishing stress in the
continuum limit. We show that the general stress-free state can be written
explicitly as a (perhaps continuous) superposition of flat Frank walls. We show
that the stress-free states are also naturally interpreted as configurations
generated by a general spatially-dependent rotational deformation. Finally, we
propose a least-squares definition for the spatially-dependent rotation field
of a general (stressful) dislocation density field.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figure
Semiclassical back reaction around a cosmic dislocation
The energy-momentum vacuum average of a conformally coupled massless scalar
field vibrating around a cosmic dislocation (a cosmic string with a dislocation
along its axis) is taken as source of the linearized semiclassical Einstein
equations. The solution up to first order in the Planck constant is derived.
Motion of a test particle is then discussed, showing that under certain
circumstances a helical-like dragging effect, with no classical analogue around
the cosmic dislocation, is induced by back reaction.Comment: Published version, 4 pages, no figures, REVTeX4 fil
Torsional Monopoles and Torqued Geometries in Gravity and Condensed Matter
Torsional degrees of freedom play an important role in modern gravity
theories as well as in condensed matter systems where they can be modeled by
defects in solids. Here we isolate a class of torsion models that support
torsion configurations with a localized, conserved charge that adopts integer
values. The charge is topological in nature and the torsional configurations
can be thought of as torsional `monopole' solutions. We explore some of the
properties of these configurations in gravity models with non-vanishing
curvature, and discuss the possible existence of such monopoles in condensed
matter systems. To conclude, we show how the monopoles can be thought of as a
natural generalization of the Cartan spiral staircase.Comment: 4+epsilon, 1 figur
Autoparallels From a New Action Principle
We present a simpler and more powerful version of the recently-discovered
action principle for the motion of a spinless point particle in spacetimes with
curvature and torsion. The surprising feature of the new principle is that an
action involving only the metric can produce an equation of motion with a
torsion force, thus changing geodesics to autoparallels. This additional
torsion force arises from a noncommutativity of variations with parameter
derivatives of the paths due to the closure failure of parallelograms in the
presence of torsionComment: Paper in src. Author Information under
http://www.physik.fu-berlin.de/~kleinert/institution.html Read paper directly
with Netscape under
http://www.physik.fu-berlin.de/~kleinert/kleiner_re243/preprint.htm
A gauge theoretic approach to elasticity with microrotations
We formulate elasticity theory with microrotations using the framework of
gauge theories, which has been developed and successfully applied in various
areas of gravitation and cosmology. Following this approach, we demonstrate the
existence of particle-like solutions. Mathematically this is due to the fact
that our equations of motion are of Sine-Gordon type and thus have soliton type
solutions. Similar to Skyrmions and Kinks in classical field theory, we can
show explicitly that these solutions have a topological origin.Comment: 15 pages, 1 figure; revised and extended version, one extra page;
revised and extended versio
Measuring rhizosphere hydraulic properties: impact of root mucilage on soil hydraulic conductivity and water retention curve
Roots are hypothesized to alter rhizosphere hydraulic properties by release of mucilage. This mechanism is expected to have strong implications for root water uptake under drought conditions. Direct measurement of rhizosphere hydraulic properties is hindered by the dynamic nature of the components involved; root hydraulics change with ontology; mucilage production, composition and diffusion are not constant; soil water content changes.
An experimental approach was developed which enables to simultaneously measure hydraulic conductivity and apparent water retention curve in a radial flow setup, mimicking the flow geometry around roots. The method consists of extracting water at constant suction via a suction cup, which is centrally placed in a soil filled cylinder and recording water outflow and soil matric potential. In the past, the setup was tested for homogeneous distribution of a model substance (calcium-polygalacturonic acid) frequently used to mimic the properties of root mucilage. Now the system has been applied to investigate the impact of plant root mucilage collected from white lupine. As the system allows a local placement of mucilage treated soil around the suction cup to simulate a ârhizosphereâ between bulk soil and suction cup, it can be set up with the limited quantity of natural plant root mucilage available from direct collection.
Quartz sand has been treated with lupine root mucilage by mixing liquid mucilage with dry sand at a concentration of 2 mg mucilage per gram soil. Treated sand has been placed as a circular layer with 3.75 mm thickness around the suction cup, which has a radius of 1.25 mm. All around this layer, the device has been filled up with untreated sand. The radius of the whole device was 25 mm. To determine soil hydraulic conductivity we inversely fitted the outflow curves and soil matric potential by solving the Richardsâ equation in radial coordinates.
Water outflow curves show a significant impact of lupine mucilage on water flow rate â it slows water flow from bulk soil to suction cup. Currently modelling is in process to determine soil hydraulic conductivity and water retention curves. Decreasing hydraulic conductivities and increasing water retention due to lupine mucilage treatment are expected
Volume elements and torsion
We reexamine here the issue of consistency of minimal action formulation with
the minimal coupling procedure (MCP) in spaces with torsion. In Riemann-Cartan
spaces, it is known that a proper use of the MCP requires that the trace of the
torsion tensor be a gradient, , and that the modified
volume element be
used in the action formulation of a physical model. We rederive this result
here under considerably weaker assumptions, reinforcing some recent results
about the inadequacy of propagating torsion theories of gravity to explain the
available observational data. The results presented here also open the door to
possible applications of the modified volume element in the geometric theory of
crystalline defects.Comment: Revtex, 8 pages, 1 figure. v2 includes a discussion on
-symmetr
Geometric Measure of Indistinguishability for Groups of Identical Particles
The concept of p-orthogonality (1=< p =< n) between n-particle states is
introduced. It generalizes common orthogonality, which is equivalent to
n-orthogonality, and strong orthogonality between fermionic states, which is
equivalent to 1-orthogonality. Within the class of non p-orthogonal states a
finer measure of non p-orthogonality is provided by Araki's angles between
p-internal spaces. The p-orthogonality concept is a geometric measure of
indistinguishability that is independent of the representation chosen for the
quantum states. It induces a new hierarchy of approximations for group function
methods. The simplifications that occur in the calculation of matrix elements
between p-orthogonal group functions are presented
Diffuse retro-reflective imaging for improved mosquito tracking around human baited bednets
Robust imaging techniques for tracking insects have been essential tools in numerous laboratory and field studies on pests, beneficial insects and model systems. Recent innovations in optical imaging systems and associated signal processing have enabled detailed characterisation of nocturnal mosquito behaviour around bednets and improvements in bednet design, a global essential for protecting populations against malaria. Nonetheless, there remain challenges around ease of use for large scale in situ recordings and extracting data reliably in the critical areas of the bednet where the optical signal is attenuated. Here we introduce a retro-reflective screen at the back of the measurement volume, which can simultaneously provide diffuse illumination, and remove optical alignment issues whilst requiring only one-sided access to the measurement space. The illumination becomes significantly more uniform, although, noise removal algorithms are needed to reduce the effects of shot noise particularly across low intensity bednet regions. By systematically introducing mosquitoes in front and behind the bednet in lab experiments we are able to demonstrate robust tracking in these challenging areas. Overall, the retro-reflective imaging setup delivers mosquito segmentation rates in excess of 90% compared to less than 70% with back-lit systems
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