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

Aharonov-Bohm Effect and Disclinations in an Elastic Medium

In this work we investigate quasiparticles in the background of defects in solids using the geometric theory of defects. We use the parallel transport matrix to study the Aharonov-Bohm effect in this background. For quasiparticles moving in this effective medium we demonstrate an effect similar to the gravitational Aharonov- Bohm effect. We analyze this effect in an elastic medium with one and $N$ defects.Comment: 6 pages, Revtex

Volterra Distortions, Spinning Strings, and Cosmic Defects

Cosmic strings, as topological spacetime defects, show striking resemblance to defects in solid continua: distortions, which can be classified into disclinations and dislocations, are line-like defects characterized by a delta function-valued curvature and torsion distribution giving rise to rotational and translational holonomy. We exploit this analogy and investigate how distortions can be adapted in a systematic manner from solid state systems to Einstein-Cartan gravity. As distortions are efficiently described within the framework of a SO(3) {\rlap{\supset}\times}} T(3) gauge theory of solid continua with line defects, we are led in a straightforward way to a Poincar\'e gauge approach to gravity which is a natural framework for introducing the notion of distorted spacetimes. Constructing all ten possible distorted spacetimes, we recover, inter alia, the well-known exterior spacetime of a spin-polarized cosmic string as a special case of such a geometry. In a second step, we search for matter distributions which, in Einstein-Cartan gravity, act as sources of distorted spacetimes. The resulting solutions, appropriately matched to the distorted vacua, are cylindrically symmetric and are interpreted as spin-polarized cosmic strings and cosmic dislocations.Comment: 24 pages, LaTeX, 9 eps figures; remarks on energy conditions added, discussion extended, version to be published in Class. Quantum Gra

Probing non-Riemannian spacetime geometry

The equations of motion for matter in non-Riemannian spacetimes are derived via a multipole method. It is found that only test bodies with microstructure couple to the non-Riemannian spacetime geometry. Consequently it is impossible to detect spacetime torsion with the satellite experiment Gravity Probe B, contrary to some recent claims in the literature.Comment: 8 pages, 1 figure, matches published version including the erratum in Phys. Lett. A 373 (2009) 160

The Inverse Variational Problem for Autoparallels

We study the problem of the existence of a local quantum scalar field theory in a general affine metric space that in the semiclassical approximation would lead to the autoparallel motion of wave packets, thus providing a deviation of the spinless particle trajectory from the geodesics in the presence of torsion. The problem is shown to be equivalent to the inverse problem of the calculus of variations for the autoparallel motion with additional conditions that the action (if it exists) has to be invariant under time reparametrizations and general coordinate transformations, while depending analytically on the torsion tensor. The problem is proved to have no solution for a generic torsion in four-dimensional spacetime. A solution exists only if the contracted torsion tensor is a gradient of a scalar field. The corresponding field theory describes coupling of matter to the dilaton field.Comment: 13 pages, plain Latex, no figure

The Einsteinian T(3)-Gauge Approach and the Stress Tensor of the Screw Dislocation in the Second Order: Avoiding the Cut-off at the Core

A translational gauge approach of the Einstein type is proposed for obtaining the stresses that are due to non-singular screw dislocation. The stress distribution of second order around the screw dislocation is classically known for the hollow circular cylinder with traction-free external and internal boundaries. The inner boundary surrounds the dislocation's core, which is not captured by the conventional solution. The present gauge approach enables us to continue the classically known quadratic stresses inside the core. The gauge equation is chosen in the Hilbert--Einstein form, and it plays the role of non-conventional incompatibility law. The stress function method is used, and it leads to the modified stress potential given by two constituents: the conventional one, say, the `background' and a short-ranged gauge contribution. The latter just causes additional stresses, which are localized. The asymptotic properties of the resulting stresses are studied. Since the gauge contributions are short-ranged, the background stress field dominates sufficiently far from the core. The outer cylinder's boundary is traction-free. At sufficiently moderate distances, the second order stresses acquire regular continuation within the core region, and the cut-off at the core does not occur. Expressions for the asymptotically far stresses provide self-consistently new length scales dependent on the elastic parameters. These lengths could characterize an exteriority of the dislocation core region.Comment: 34 pages, LaTe

Non-singular screw dislocations as the Coulomb gas with smoothed out coupling and the renormalization of the shear modulus

A field theory is developed for a thermodynamical description of array of parallel non-singular screw dislocations in elastic cylinder. The partition function of the system is considered in the functional integral form. Self-energy of the dislocation cores is chosen in the form suggested by the gauge-translational model of non-singular screw dislocation. It is shown that the system of the dislocations is equivalent to the two-dimensional Coulomb gas. The coupling potential is prevented from a short-distance divergency since the core energies are taken into account. Two-point correlation functions of the stress components are obtained. Renormalization of the shear modulus caused by the presence of the dislocations is studied in the approximation of non-interacting dislocation dipoles. It is demonstrated that the finite size of the dislocation cores results in a modification of the renormalization law.Comment: 20 pages, LaTe