79 research outputs found
Distribution of velocities in an avalanche
For a driven elastic object near depinning, we derive from first principles
the distribution of instantaneous velocities in an avalanche. We prove that
above the upper critical dimension, d >= d_uc, the n-times distribution of the
center-of-mass velocity is equivalent to the prediction from the ABBM
stochastic equation. Our method allows to compute space and time dependence
from an instanton equation. We extend the calculation beyond mean field, to
lowest order in epsilon=d_uc-d.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure
Imaging the symmetry breaking of molecular orbitals in carbon nanotubes
Carbon nanotubes have attracted considerable interest for their unique
electronic properties. They are fascinating candidates for fundamental studies
of one dimensional materials as well as for future molecular electronics
applications. The molecular orbitals of nanotubes are of particular importance
as they govern the transport properties and the chemical reactivity of the
system. Here we show for the first time a complete experimental investigation
of molecular orbitals of single wall carbon nanotubes using atomically resolved
scanning tunneling spectroscopy. Local conductance measurements show
spectacular carbon-carbon bond asymmetry at the Van Hove singularities for both
semiconducting and metallic tubes, demonstrating the symmetry breaking of
molecular orbitals in nanotubes. Whatever the tube, only two types of
complementary orbitals are alternatively observed. An analytical tight-binding
model describing the interference patterns of ? orbitals confirmed by ab initio
calculations, perfectly reproduces the experimental results
Avalanches in mean-field models and the Barkhausen noise in spin-glasses
We obtain a general formula for the distribution of sizes of "static
avalanches", or shocks, in generic mean-field glasses with
replica-symmetry-breaking saddle points. For the Sherrington-Kirkpatrick (SK)
spin-glass it yields the density rho(S) of the sizes of magnetization jumps S
along the equilibrium magnetization curve at zero temperature. Continuous
replica-symmetry breaking allows for a power-law behavior rho(S) ~ 1/(S)^tau
with exponent tau=1 for SK, related to the criticality (marginal stability) of
the spin-glass phase. All scales of the ultrametric phase space are implicated
in jump events. Similar results are obtained for the sizes S of static jumps of
pinned elastic systems, or of shocks in Burgers turbulence in large dimension.
In all cases with a one-step solution, rho(S) ~ S exp(-A S^2). A simple
interpretation relating droplets to shocks, and a scaling theory for the
equilibrium analog of Barkhausen noise in finite-dimensional spin glasses are
discussed.Comment: 6 pages, 1 figur
Spin-Wave-Assisted Thermal Reversal of Epitaxial Perpendicular Magnetic Nanodots
The magnetic susceptibility of self-organized two-dimensional Co nanodots on
Au(111) has been measured as a function of their size in the 2-7~nm diameter
range. We show that the activation energy for the thermal reversal displays a
power law behavior with the dot volume. Atomic scale simulations based on the
Heisenberg hamiltonian show that this behavior is due to a deviation from the
macrospin model for dot size as small as 3~nm in diameter. This discrepancy is
attributed to finite temperature effects through the thermal excitation of
spin-wave modes inside the particlesComment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Aging dynamics of non-linear elastic interfaces: the Kardar-Parisi-Zhang equation
In this work, the out-of-equilibrium dynamics of the Kardar-Parisi-Zhang
equation in (1+1) dimensions is studied by means of numerical simulations,
focussing on the two-times evolution of an interface in the absence of any
disordered environment. This work shows that even in this simple case, a rich
aging behavior develops. A multiplicative aging scenario for the two-times
roughness of the system is observed, characterized by the same growth exponent
as in the stationary regime. The analysis permits the identification of the
relevant growing correlation length, accounting for the important scaling
variables in the system. The distribution function of the two-times roughness
is also computed and described in terms of a generalized scaling relation.
These results give good insight into the glassy dynamics of the important case
of a non-linear elastic line in a disordered medium.Comment: 14 pages, 6 figure
Ageing memory and glassiness of a driven vortex system
Many systems in nature, glasses, interfaces and fractures being some
examples, cannot equilibrate with their environment, which gives rise to novel
and surprising behaviour such as memory effects, ageing and nonlinear dynamics.
Unlike their equilibrated counterparts, the dynamics of out-of- equilibrium
systems is generally too complex to be captured by simple macroscopic laws.
Here we investigate a system that straddles the boundary between glass and
crystal: a Bragg glass formed by vortices in a superconductor. We find that the
response to an applied force evolves according to a stretched exponential, with
the exponent reflecting the deviation from equilibrium. After the force is
removed, the system ages with time and its subsequent response time scales
linearly with its age (simple ageing), meaning that older systems are slower
than younger ones. We show that simple ageing can occur naturally in the
presence of sufficient quenched disorder. Moreover, the hierarchical
distribution of timescales, arising when chunks of loose vortices cannot move
before trapped ones become dislodged, leads to a stretched-exponential
response.Comment: 16 pages, 5 figure
Relaxation and reconstruction on (111) surfaces of Au, Pt, and Cu
We have theoretically studied the stability and reconstruction of (111)
surfaces of Au, Pt, and Cu. We have calculated the surface energy, surface
stress, interatomic force constants, and other relevant quantities by ab initio
electronic structure calculations using the density functional theory (DFT), in
a slab geometry with periodic boundary conditions. We have estimated the
stability towards a quasi-one-dimensional reconstruction by using the
calculated quantities as parameters in a one-dimensional Frenkel-Kontorova
model. On all surfaces we have found an intrinsic tensile stress. This stress
is large enough on Au and Pt surfaces to lead to a reconstruction in which a
denser surface layer is formed, in agreement with experiment. The
experimentally observed differences between the dense reconstruction pattern on
Au(111) and a sparse structure of stripes on Pt(111) are attributed to the
details of the interaction potential between the first layer of atoms and the
substrate.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures, submitted to Physical Review
Grain Boundaries in Graphene on SiC(000) Substrate
Grain boundaries in epitaxial graphene on the SiC(000) substrate are
studied using scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy. All investigated
small-angle grain boundaries show pronounced out-of-plane buckling induced by
the strain fields of constituent dislocations. The ensemble of observations
allows to determine the critical misorientation angle of buckling transition
. Periodic structures are found among the flat
large-angle grain boundaries. In particular, the observed highly ordered grain boundary is assigned to the previously
proposed lowest formation energy structural motif composed of a continuous
chain of edge-sharing alternating pentagons and heptagons. This periodic grain
boundary defect is predicted to exhibit strong valley filtering of charge
carriers thus promising the practical realization of all-electric valleytronic
devices
Uniform magnetic properties for an ultrahigh-density lattice of noninteracting Co nanostructures
We report on the magnetic properties of two-dimensional Co nanoparticles arranged in macroscopically phase-coherent superlattices created by self-assembly on Au(788). Our particles have a density of 26 Tera/in(2) (1 Tera=10(12)), are monodomain, and have uniaxial out-of-plane anisotropy. The distribution of the magnetic anisotropy energies has a half width at half maximum of 17%, a factor of 2 more narrow than the best results reported for superlattices of three-dimensional nanoparticles. Our data show the absence of magnetic interactions between the particles. Co/Au(788) thus constitutes an ideal model system to explore the ultimate density limit of magnetic recording
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