A theoretical investigation of cracks in two-phase solids

Inhomogeneity in composite plastic materials resulting in crack

Computer Simulation Of Three-dimensional Mechanical Assemblies: Part II - Computer Simulation

Computer simulation of the kinematic and dynamic behaviors of mechanical assemblies has become a very important tool in design and manufacturing, because the designer can foresee how a product is going to perform before the product is actually fabricated. However, up to now, the most current simulation modules are based on analysis from another kinematic or dynamic module by specifying the mating conditions between components, and then displaying the motion on the screen. This computer simulation actually performs similarly to a movie and can only provide visual checking. The drawback of this simulation approach is that designers are forced to use the available joint models and may lose their creativity. In part I of this paper, general mathematical modeling of the multi-body system is presented, while part n of this paper, a prototype convex-feature modeling system is presented with which a designer can interactively create an assembly of mechanical components ready for dynamic analysis. It can provide a state-of-the-art technology for real simulation of any mechanical systems, and act as a cost-effective test bed for concepts, final design, and control algorithms

Preparation of Dicke States in an Ion Chain

We have investigated theoretically and experimentally a method for preparing Dicke states in trapped atomic ions. We consider a linear chain of $N$ ion qubits that is prepared in a particular Fock state of motion, $|m>$. The $m$ phonons are removed by applying a laser pulse globally to the $N$ qubits, and converting the motional excitation to $m$ flipped spins. The global nature of this pulse ensures that the $m$ flipped spins are shared by all the target ions in a state that is a close approximation to the Dicke state \D{N}{m}. We calculate numerically the fidelity limits of the protocol and find small deviations from the ideal state for $m = 1$ and $m = 2$. We have demonstrated the basic features of this protocol by preparing the state \D{2}{1} in two $^{25}$Mg$^+$ target ions trapped simultaneously with an $^{27}$Al$^+$ ancillary ion.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figure

Unique gap structure and symmetry of the charge density wave in single-layer VSe2_2

Single layers of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) are excellent candidates for electronic applications beyond the graphene platform; many of them exhibit novel properties including charge density waves (CDWs) and magnetic ordering. CDWs in these single layers are generally a planar projection of the corresponding bulk CDWs because of the quasi-two-dimensional nature of TMDCs; a different CDW symmetry is unexpected. We report herein the successful creation of pristine single-layer VSe$_2$, which shows a ($\sqrt7 \times \sqrt3$) CDW in contrast to the (4 $\times$ 4) CDW for the layers in bulk VSe$_2$. Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) from the single layer shows a sizable ($\sqrt7 \times \sqrt3$) CDW gap of $\sim$100 meV at the zone boundary, a 220 K CDW transition temperature twice the bulk value, and no ferromagnetic exchange splitting as predicted by theory. This robust CDW with an exotic broken symmetry as the ground state is explained via a first-principles analysis. The results illustrate a unique CDW phenomenon in the two-dimensional limit

Suppression of the commensurate spin-Peierls state in Sc-doped TiOCl

We have performed x-ray scattering measurements on single crystals of the doped spin-Peierls compound Ti(1-x)Sc(x)OCl (x = 0, 0.01, 0.03). These measurements reveal that the presence of non-magnetic dopants has a profound effect on the unconventional spin-Peierls behavior of this system, even at concentrations as low as 1%. Sc-doping suppresses commensurate fluctuations in the pseudogap and incommensurate spin-Peierls phases of TiOCl, and prevents the formation of a long-range ordered spin-Peierls state. Broad incommensurate scattering develops in the doped compounds near Tc2 ~ 93 K, and persists down to base temperature (~ 7 K) with no evidence of a lock-in transition. The width of the incommensurate dimerization peaks indicates short correlation lengths on the order of ~ 12 angstroms below Tc2. The intensity of the incommensurate scattering is significantly reduced at higher Sc concentrations, indicating that the size of the associated lattice displacement decreases rapidly as a function of doping.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figure