119 research outputs found
Exploiting pattern transformation to tune phononic band gaps in a two-dimensional granular crystal
The band structure of a two-dimensional granular crystal composed of silicone rubber and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) cylinders is investigated numerically. This system was previously shown to undergo a pattern transformation with uniaxial compression by Göncü et al. [Soft Matter 7, 2321 (2011)]. The dispersion relations of the crystal are computed at different levels of deformation to demonstrate the tunability of the band structure, which is strongly affected by the pattern transformation that induces new band gaps. Replacement of PTFE particles with rubber ones reveals that the change of the band structure is essentially governed by pattern transformation rather than particles¿ mechanical properties
Interfaces in Diblocks: A Study of Miktoarm Star Copolymers
We study AB miktoarm star block copolymers in the strong segregation
limit, focussing on the role that the AB interface plays in determining the
phase behavior. We develop an extension of the kinked-path approach which
allows us to explore the energetic dependence on interfacial shape. We consider
a one-parameter family of interfaces to study the columnar to lamellar
transition in asymmetric stars. We compare with recent experimental results. We
discuss the stability of the A15 lattice of sphere-like micelles in the context
of interfacial energy minimization. We corroborate our theory by implementing a
numerically exact self-consistent field theory to probe the phase diagram and
the shape of the AB interface.Comment: 12 pages, 11 included figure
Complex crystal structures formed by the self assembly of di-tethered nanospheres
We report the results from a computational study of the self-assembly of
amphiphilic di-tethered nanospheres using molecular simulation. As a function
of the interaction strength and directionality of the tether-tether
interactions, we predict the formation of four highly ordered phases not
previously reported for nanoparticle systems. We find a double diamond
structure comprised of a zincblende (binary diamond) arrangement of spherical
micelles with a complementary diamond network of nanoparticles (ZnS/D); a phase
of alternating spherical micelles in a NaCl structure with a complementary
simple cubic network of nanoparticles to form an overall crystal structure
identical to that of AlCu_2Mn (NaCl/SC); an alternating tetragonal ordered
cylinder phase with a tetragonal mesh of nanoparticles described by the [8,8,4]
Archimedean tiling (TC/T); and an alternating diamond phase in which both
diamond networks are formed by the tethers (AD) within a nanoparticle matrix.
We compare these structures with those observed in linear and star triblock
copolymer systems
Photonic band gaps in materials with triply periodic surfaces and related tubular structures
We calculate the photonic band gap of triply periodic bicontinuous cubic
structures and of tubular structures constructed from the skeletal graphs of
triply periodic minimal surfaces. The effect of the symmetry and topology of
the periodic dielectric structures on the existence and the characteristics of
the gaps is discussed. We find that the C(I2-Y**) structure with Ia3d symmetry,
a symmetry which is often seen in experimentally realized bicontinuous
structures, has a photonic band gap with interesting characteristics. For a
dielectric contrast of 11.9 the largest gap is approximately 20% for a volume
fraction of the high dielectric material of 25%. The midgap frequency is a
factor of 1.5 higher than the one for the (tubular) D and G structures
Outlook for inverse design in nanophotonics
Recent advancements in computational inverse design have begun to reshape the
landscape of structures and techniques available to nanophotonics. Here, we
outline a cross section of key developments at the intersection of these two
fields: moving from a recap of foundational results to motivation of emerging
applications in nonlinear, topological, near-field and on-chip optics.Comment: 13 pages, 6 figure
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