Driven Disordered Polymorphic Solids: Phases and Phase Transitions, Dynamical Coexistence and Peak Effect Anomalies

We study a model for the depinning and driven steady state phases of a solid tuned across a polymorphic phase transition between ground states of triangular and square symmetry. These include pinned states which may have dominantly triangular or square correlations, a plastically flowing liquid-like phase, a moving phase with hexatic correlations, flowing triangular and square states and a dynamic coexistence regime characterized by the complex interconversion of locally square and triangular regions. We locate these phases in a dynamical phase diagram. We demonstrate that the apparent power-law orientational correlations we obtain in our moving hexatic phase arise from circularly averaging an orientational correlation function with qualitatively different behaviour in the longitudinal (drive) and transverse directions. The intermediate coexistence regime exhibits several novel properties, including substantial enhancement in the current noise, an unusual power-law spectrum of current fluctuations and striking metastability effects. This noise arises from the fluctuations of the interface separating locally square and triangular ordered regions. We demonstrate the breakdown of effective ``shaking temperature'' treatments in the coexistence regime by showing that such shaking temperatures are non-monotonic functions of the drive in this regime. Finally we discuss the relevance of these simulations to the anomalous behaviour seen in the peak effect regime of vortex lines in the disordered mixed phase of type-II superconductors. We propose that this anomalous behavior is directly linked to the behavior exhibited in our simulations in the dynamical coexistence regime, thus suggesting a possible solution to the problem of the origin of peak effect anomalies.Comment: 22 pages, double column, higher quality figures available from author

Electronic and optical properties of SnX2(X=S, Se)-InSe van der Waals heterostructures from first- principle calculations

In this work from first-principles simulations we investigate bilayer van der Waals heterostructures (vdWh) of emerging 2-dimensional (2D) optical materials SnS 2 and SnSe 2 with monolayer InSe. With density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we study the structural, electronic, optical and carrier transport properties of the SnX 2 (X=S,Se)-InSe vdWh. Calculations show SnX 2 -InSe in its most stable stacking form (named AB-1) to be a material with a small (0.6- 0.7eV) indirect band-gap. The bilayer vdWh shows broad spectrum optical response, with number of peaks in the infra-red to visible region. In terms of carrier transport properties, asymmetry in conductance was observed with respect to the transport direction and electron and hole transmission. The findings are promising from the viewpoint of nanoelectronics and photonics.Comment: The following article has been submitted for peer-review. After it is published, it will be found at Lin

Historiography of the Formation of Assamese Identity: A Review

Occasional Papers in Sociology and Anthropology - Peace and Democracy in South Asia, Volume 2, Numbers 1&2, 200