Bistable and dynamic states of parametrically excited ultrasound in a fluid-filled cavity

In this paper we have considered the problem of parametric sound generation in an acoustic resonator flled with a fluid, taking explicitely into account the influence of the nonlinearly generated second harmonic. A simple model is presented, and its stationary solutions obtained. The main feature of these solutions is the appearance of bistable states of the fundamental field resulting from the coupling to the second harmonic. An experimental setup was designed to check the predictions of the theory. The results are consistent with the predicted values for the mode amplitudes and parametric thresholds. At higher driving values a self-modulation of the amplitudes is observed. We identify this phenomenon with a secondary instability previously reported in the frame of the theoretical model.Comment: 5 figures. Submitted to JAS

Coulomb Blockade of Proximity Effect at Large Conductance

We consider the proximity effect in a normal dot coupled to a bulk superconducting reservoir by the tunnel contact with large normal conductance. Coulomb interaction in the dot suppresses the proximity minigap induced in the normal part of the system. We find exact expressions for the thermodynamic and tunneling minigaps as functions of the junction's capacitance. The tunneling minigap interpolates between its proximity-induced value in the regime of weak Coulomb interaction to the Coulomb gap in the regime of strong interaction. In the intermediate case a non-universal two-step structure of the tunneling density of states is predicted. The charge quantization in the dot is also studied.Comment: 4 pages (RevTeX), 3 figures. Version 2: minor corrections, a figure and two references adde

Beyond the KdV: post-explosion development

Several threads of the last 25 years’ developments in nonlinear wave theory that stem from the classical Korteweg–de Vries (KdV) equation are surveyed. The focus is on various generalizations of the KdV equation which include higher-order nonlinearity, large-scale dispersion, and a nonlocal integral dispersion. We also discuss how relatively simple models can capture strongly nonlinear dynamics and how various modifications of the KdV equation lead to qualitatively new, non-trivial solutions and regimes of evolution observable in the laboratory and in nature. As the main physical example, we choose internal gravity waves in the ocean for which all these models are applicable and have genuine importance. We also briefly outline the authors’ view of the future development of the chosen lines of nonlinear wave theory

On the cascade mechanism of short surface wave modulation

International audienceModulation of short surface ripples by long surface or internal waves by a cascade mechanism is considered. At the first stage, the orbital velocity of the long wave (LW) adiabatically modulates an intermediate length nonlinear gravity wave (GW), which generates a bound (parasitic) capillary wave (CW) near its crest in a wide spatial frequency band. Due to strong dependence of the CW amplitude on that of the GW, the resulting ripple modulation by LW can be strong. Adiabatic modulation at the first stage is calculated for an arbitrarily strong LW current. The CWs are calculated based on the Lonquet-Higgins theory, in the framework of a steady periodic solution, which proves to be sufficient for the cases considered. Theoretical results are compared with data from laboratory experiments. A discussion of related sea clutter data is given in the conclusion

Ballistic charge transport in chiral-symmetric few-layer graphene

A transfer matrix approach to study ballistic charge transport in few-layer graphene with chiral-symmetric stacking configurations is developed. We demonstrate that the chiral symmetry justifies a non-Abelian gauge transformation at the spectral degeneracy point (zero energy). This transformation proves the equivalence of zero-energy transport properties of the multilayer to those of the system of uncoupled monolayers. Similar transformation can be applied in order to gauge away an arbitrary magnetic field, weak strain, and hopping disorder in the bulk of the sample. Finally, we calculate the full-counting statistics at arbitrary energy for different stacking configurations. The predicted gate-voltage dependence of conductance and noise can be measured in clean multilayer samples with generic metallic leads.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures; EPL published versio

Coulomb interaction in graphene: Relaxation rates and transport

We analyze the inelastic electron-electron scattering in undoped graphene within the Keldysh diagrammatic approach. We demonstrate that finite temperature strongly affects the screening properties of graphene, which, in turn, influences the inelastic scattering rates as compared to the zero-temperature case. Focussing on the clean regime, we calculate the quantum scattering rate which is relevant for dephasing of interference processes. We identify an hierarchy of regimes arising due to the interplay of a plasmon enhancement of the scattering and finite-temperature screening of the interaction. We further address the energy relaxation and transport scattering rates in graphene. We find a non-monotonic energy dependence of the inelastic relaxation rates in clean graphene which is attributed to the resonant excitation of plasmons. Finally, we discuss the temperature dependence of the conductivity at the Dirac point in the presence of both interaction and disorder. Our results complement the kinetic-equation and hydrodynamic approaches for the collision-limited conductivity of clean graphene and can be generalized to the treatment of physics of inelastic processes in strongly non-equilibrium setups.Comment: 28 pages, 16 figure

Electron transport in disordered graphene

We study electron transport properties of a monoatomic graphite layer (graphene) with different types of disorder. We show that the transport properties of the system depend strongly on the character of disorder. Away from half filling, the concentration dependence of conductivity is linear in the case of strong scatterers, in line with recent experimental observations, and logarithmic for weak scatterers. At half filling the conductivity is of the order of e^2/h if the randomness preserves one of the chiral symmetries of the clean Hamiltonian; otherwise, the conductivity is strongly affected by localization effects.Comment: 21 pages, 9 figure