Plane-strain crack-tip fields for power-law hardening orthotropic materials

Near-tip stress and strain fields for power-law hardening orthotropic materials under plane-strain conditions are presented. Plastic orthotropy is described by Hill's quadratic yield function. The angular variations of these HRR-type fields depend on a single parameter which specifies the state of plastic orthotropy. Near-tip fields for highly orthotropic materials differ substantially from the fields for isotropic materials. Mode I (symmetric) and mode II (anti-symmetric) solutions for different degrees of plastic orthotropy are given. The angular stress distributions for the low-hardening material agree remarkably well with the plane-strain slip-line fields. Based on the singularity fields, effective stress contours are constructed. The applicability of these fields in the context of a fiber-reinforced composite containing a macroscopic flaw is discussed.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/25953/1/0000019.pd

Plane-stress crack-tip fields for power-law hardening orthotropic materials

Plane stress mode I near-tip fields in orthotropic materials are examined. Plastic orthotropy is described by Hill's quadratic yield function and the strain hardening behavior is given by an appropriate generalization of a uniaxial tensile power-law stress-strain relation. Pronounced changes in the pattern of the angular variations of crack-tip fields have been observed with the degree of plastic orthotropy and the amount of strain hardening. Possible shapes and sizes of plastic zones (as inferred from effective stress contours) are presented for high- and low-hardening materials and a wide range of plastic orthotropy. The shape of the plastic zone for a particular case of plastic orthotropy agreed remarkably well with the zone of intense straining induced by an appropriately orientated crack within a graphite/epoxy laminate. On examine les champs de contraintes planes selon un mode I au voisinage de l'extrémité d'une fissure dans des matériaux orthotropes. L'orthotrope plastique est décrite par la fonction quadratique de plastification de Hill, et le comportement à l'écrouissage est donné par une généralisation adéquate d'une relation tensioncilatation de forme parabolique, sous traction mono-axiale. On a observé des modifications profondes dans l'aspect des variations angulaires des champs d'extrémité de fissure, selon le degré d'orthotropie plastique et infensité de l'écrouissage. Pour des matériaux très sujets ou peu sujets à l'écrouissage, et pour une large gamme d'orthotropies plastiques, on présente les formes et dimensions possibles des zones plastiques, telles qu'elles se deduisent des contours effectifs de contraintes. La forme de la zone plastique correspondant au cas particulier d'une orthotropie plastique s'accorde remarquablement bien à la zone de dilatation importante créée par une fissure d'orientation appropriée, dans une plaque de graphite-epoxy.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/42768/1/10704_2004_Article_BF00045862.pd

Magnetic resonance peak and nonmagnetic impurities

Nonmagnetic Zn impurities are known to strongly suppress superconductivity. We review their effects on the spin excitation spectrum in $\rm YBa_2Cu_3O_{7}$, as investigated by inelastic neutron scattering measurements.Comment: Proceedings of Mato Advanced Research Workshop BLED 2000. To appear in Nato Science Series: B Physic

Atrial fibrillation and electrophysiology in transgenic mice with cardiac-restricted overexpression of FKBP12

Cardiomyocyte-restricted overexpression of FK506-binding protein 12 transgenic (αMyHC-FKBP12) mice develop spontaneous atrial fibrillation (AF). The aim of the present study is to explore the mechanisms underlying the occurrence of AF in αMyHC-FKBP12 mice. Spontaneous AF was documented by telemetry in vivo and Langendorff-perfused hearts of αMyHC-FKBP12 and littermate control mice in vitro. Atrial conduction velocity was evaluated by optical mapping. The patch-clamp technique was applied to determine the potentially altered electrophysiology in atrial myocytes. Channel protein expression levels were evaluated by Western blot analyses. Spontaneous AF was recorded in four of seven αMyHC-FKBP12 mice but in none of eight nontransgenic (NTG) controls. Atrial conduction velocity was significantly reduced in αMyHC-FKBP12 hearts compared with NTG hearts. Interestingly, the mean action potential duration at 50% but not 90% was significantly prolonged in αMyHC-FKBP12 atrial myocytes compared with their NTG counterparts. Consistent with decreased conduction velocity, average peak Na+ current ( INa) density was dramatically reduced and the INa inactivation curve was shifted by approximately +7 mV in αMyHC-FKBP12 atrial myocytes, whereas the activation and recovery curves were unaltered. The Nav1.5 expression level was significantly reduced in αMyHC-FKBP12 atria. Furthermore, we found increases in atrial Cav1.2 protein levels and peak L-type Ca2+ current density and increased levels of fibrosis in αMyHC-FKBP12 atria. In summary, cardiomyocyte-restricted overexpression of FKBP12 reduces the atrial Nav1.5 expression level and mean peak INa, which is associated with increased peak L-type Ca2+ current and interstitial fibrosis in atria. The combined electrophysiological and structural changes facilitated the development of local conduction block and altered action potential duration and spontaneous AF. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study addresses a long-standing riddle regarding the role of FK506-binding protein 12 in cardiac physiology. The work provides further evidence that FK506-binding protein 12 is a critical component for regulating voltage-gated sodium current and in so doing has an important role in arrhythmogenic physiology, such as atrial fibrillation

Tailoring a two-dimensional electron gas at the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 (001) interface by epitaxial strain

Recently a metallic state was discovered at the interface between insulating oxides, most notably LaAlO3 and SrTiO3. Properties of this two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) have attracted significant interest due to its potential applications in nanoelectronics. Control over this carrier density and mobility of the 2DEG is essential for applications of these novel systems, and may be achieved by epitaxial strain. However, despite the rich nature of strain effects on oxide materials properties, such as ferroelectricity, magnetism, and superconductivity, the relationship between the strain and electrical properties of the 2DEG at the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 heterointerface remains largely unexplored. Here, we use different lattice constant single crystal substrates to produce LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interfaces with controlled levels of biaxial epitaxial strain. We have found that tensile strained SrTiO3 destroys the conducting 2DEG, while compressively strained SrTiO3 retains the 2DEG, but with a carrier concentration reduced in comparison to the unstrained LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interface. We have also found that the critical LaAlO3 overlayer thickness for 2DEG formation increases with SrTiO3 compressive strain. Our first-principles calculations suggest that a strain-induced electric polarization in the SrTiO3 layer is responsible for this behavior. It is directed away from the interface and hence creates a negative polarization charge opposing that of the polar LaAlO3 layer. This both increases the critical thickness of the LaAlO3 layer, and reduces carrier concentration above the critical thickness, in agreement with our experimental results. Our findings suggest that epitaxial strain can be used to tailor 2DEGs properties of the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 heterointerface

Electronic reconstruction at the polar (111)- oriented oxide interface

Atomically flat (111) interfaces between insulating perovskite oxides provide a landscape for new electronic phenomena. For example, the graphene-like coordination between interfacial metallic ion layer pairs can lead to topologically protected states [Xiao et al., Nat. Commun. 2, 596 (2011) and A. Rüegg and G. A. Fiete, Phys. Rev. B 84, 201103 (2011)]. The metallic ion/metal oxide bilayers that comprise the unit cell of the perovskite (111) heterostructures require the interface to be polar, generating an intrinsic polar discontinuity [Chakhalian et al., Nat. Mater. 11, 92 (2012)]. Here, we investigate epitaxial heterostructures of (111)-oriented LaAlO3/SrTiO3 (LAO/STO). We find that during heterostructure growth, the LAO overlayer eliminates the structural reconstruction of the STO (111) surface with an electronic reconstruction, which determines the properties of the resulting two-dimensional conducting gas. This is confirmed by transport measurements, direct determination of the structure and atomic charge from coherent Bragg rod analysis, and theoretical calculations of electronic and structural characteristics. Interfacial behaviors of the kind discussed here may lead to new growth control parameters useful for electronic devices

Evidence of Doping-Dependent Pairing Symmetry in Cuprate Superconductors

Scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) studies reveal long-range spatial homogeneity and predominantly $d_{x^2-y^2}$-pairing spectral characteristics in under- and optimally doped $\rm YBa_2Cu_3O_{7-\delta}$ superconductors, whereas STS on $\rm YBa_2(Cu_{0.9934}Zn_{0.0026}Mg_{0.004})_3O_{6.9}$ exhibits {\it microscopic} spatial modulations and strong scattering near the Zn or Mg impurity sites, together with global suppression of the pairing potential. In contrast, in overdoped $\rm (Y_{0.7}Ca_{0.3})Ba_2Cu_3O_{7-\delta}$, $(d_{x^2-y^2}+s)$-pairing symmetry is found, suggesting significant changes in the superconducting ground-state at a critical doping value.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures. Published in Physical Review Letters. Corresponding author: Nai-Chang Yeh (e-mail address: [email protected]

Impurity in a d-wave superconductor: Kondo effect and STM spectra

We present a theory for recent STM studies of Zn impurities in the superconductor BSCCO, using insights from NMR experiments which show that there is a net S=1/2 moment on the Cu ions near the Zn. We argue that the Kondo spin dynamics of this moment is the origin of the low bias peak in the differential conductance, rather than a resonance in a purely potential scattering model. The spatial and energy dependence of the STM spectra of our model can also fit the experiments.Comment: 4 pages, 2 color figures. Found improved saddle-point with d-wave correlations near the impurity; onset of Kondo screening now occurs at a significantly smaller coupling, but there is little qualitative change in other features. Noted connection to STM of Kondo impurities in normal metals. Final version as publishe