Critical dynamics associated with dynamic disordering near the depinning transition in different vortex phases

We study a depinning transition based on transient dynamics of vortices driven by a suddenly applied dc current, focusing on whether a difference in the equilibrium vortex phase that can lead to a different vortex flow will change the critical behavior. After preparing an ordered initial vortex configuration, we measure the time evolution of voltage associated with dynamic disordering in three magnetic fields, corresponding to the ordered phase (OP), disordered phase (DP), and coexistence phase. The critical behavior of the depinning transition is commonly observed in these phases, pointing to the universality of the transition. However, the critical behavior is most marked in the coexistence phase, while the suppression of the critical region and that of dynamic disordering are observed in OP and DP, respectively, whose origin is attributed to the different flow states among these phases.     

Electromechanical response of sliding charge-density-waves: Voltage-induced torsional strain in tantalum trisulfide

We have measured the hysteretic voltage-induced torsional strain (VITS) in orthorhombic tantalum trisulfide as functions of voltage, temperature, and torque, which was applied by attaching a small magnetic rod to the center of the sample. We have found that the magnitude, speed, and even direction of the VITS hysteresis loops varied with the applied torque, suggesting that the VITS is a consequence of residual torsional strains in the sample interacting with hysteretic, voltage-induced changes of the charge-density-wave wave vector. The VITS response time is much longer than the time needed for the wave vector to change with response to either applied stress or applied voltage and varies inversely with the CDW current, suggesting that the VITS response requires motion of CDW defects.     

Numerical approaches on driven elastic interfaces in random media

We discuss the universal dynamics of elastic interfaces in quenched random media. We focus on the relation between the rough geometry and collective transport properties in driven steady-states. Specially devised numerical algorithms allow us to analyze the equilibrium, creep, and depinning regimes of motion in minimal models. The relevance of our results for understanding domain wall experiments is outlined.     

Impurities potential effect on the charge density wave dynamics in one-dimensional systems

In this work, we present in the weak pinning case the numerical simulation results of the one-dimensional deformable charge density wave (CDW) properties considering the potential amplitude fluctuations effect generated by different impurity types randomly distributed in the lattice. When the electric field approaches threshold value ET, the static equilibrium characteristic time τ and the polarization PCDW become large and seem to diverge at critical field Ecr from below ET following a power law [1−(E/Ecr)]^−α where α is an impurity dependant critical exponent. This divergence indicates that the CDW depinning can be described in terms of a dynamical critical phenomena, where the critical field Ecr plays the role of a transition temperature as in ordinary phase transitions. In agreement with several experimental results, we show that the electric current density JCDW and electric conductivity σCDW follow respectively a power law β[(E/ET)−1] and (ET/E)ν[(E/ET)−1] where β and ν are critical exponents. This results are analogous to these obtained in the case of one impurity type.     

Unique depinning fields at symmetric double notches in a ferromagnetic permalloy nanowire

Ferromagnetic domain-wall pinning and depinning mechanisms were investigated at permalloy nanowire notches using a micromagnetic calculation. A unique depinning field originated from the symmetric double notches irrespective of the wall polarity or the propagation direction, whereas several distinct pinning mechanisms appeared from single or asymmetric notches. The depinning field was principally determined by the exiting notch slope due to the dynamic narrowing of the domain wall thickness.     

Patterned deposition at moving contact lines

When a simple or complex liquid recedes from a smooth solid substrate it often leaves a homogeneous or structured deposit behind. In the case of a receding non-volatile pure liquid the deposit might be a liquid film or an arrangement of droplets depending on the receding speed of the meniscus and the wetting properties of the system. For complex liquids with volatile components as, e.g., polymer solutions and particle or surfactant suspensions, the deposit might be a homogeneous or structured layer of solute — with structures ranging from line patterns that can be orthogonal or parallel to the receding contact line via hexagonal or square arrangements of drops to complicated hierarchical structures. We review a number of recent experiments and modelling approaches with a particular focus on mesoscopic hydrodynamic long-wave models. The conclusion highlights open question and speculates about future developments.     

Analytic theory of wall configuration and depinning mechanism in magnetic nanostructure with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy

We present an analytic theory of the domain wall depinning in magnetic nanostructure with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. The variational principle reveals that the wall is bent in the form of a circular arc which intersects the structure boundaries perpendicularly. The radius is inversely proportional to the magnetic field. With increasing the field the radius shrinks, followed by depinning from the constriction when the arc is not geometrically allowed. The depinning field is proportional to the sine of the constriction angle and the inverse of the constriction width. The validity of the theory is confirmed by comparison with the micromagnetic simulation.     

Denjoy minimal sets and Birkhoff periodic orbits for non-exact monotone twist maps

A non-exact monotone twist map ${\overline{\phi }}_F$ is a composition of an exact monotone twist map $\overline{\phi }$ with a generating function H and a vertical translation $V_F$ with $V_F((x,y))=(x,y?F)$. We show in this paper that for each $\omega \in \mathbb{R}$, there exists a critical value $F_d(\omega )\ge 0$ depending on H and ω such that for $0\le F\le F_d(\omega )$, the non-exact twist map ${\overline{\phi }}_F$ has an invariant Denjoy minimal set with irrational rotation number ω lying on a Lipschitz graph, or Birkhoff $(p,q)$-periodic orbits for rational $\omega =p/q$. Like the Aubry–Mather theory, we also construct heteroclinic orbits connecting Birkhoff periodic orbits, and show that quasi-periodic orbits in these Denjoy minimal sets can be approximated by periodic orbits. In particular, we demonstrate that at the critical value $F=F_d(\omega )$, the Denjoy minimal set is not uniformly hyperbolic and can be approximated by smooth curves.     

Driven quasi-one-dimensional classical electron gas in the presence of a constriction: Pinning and depinning

We studied the properties of a quasi-one-dimensional system of charged particles in the presence of a local Lorentzian-shaped constriction. We investigated the response of the system when a time-independent external driving force is applied in the unconfined direction. Langevin molecular dynamics simulations for different values of the drive and temperature are performed. We found that the particles are pinned unless a threshold value of the driving force is reached. We investigated in detail the depinning phenomenon. The system can depin “elastically”, with particles moving together and keeping their neighbors, or “quasi-elastically”, with particles moving together through a complex net of conducting channels without keeping their neighbors. In the case of elastic depinning the velocity vs applied drive curves is characterized by a critical exponent β consistent with the value , while in the case of quasi-elastic depinning the critical exponent β has on average the value 0.94. The model is relevant e.g. for electrons on liquid helium, colloids and dusty plasma.     

Vortices trapped in the damaged surroundings of antidots in Nb films – Depinning transition

The depinning transition of Vortex Matter in the presence of antidots in superconducting Nb films has been investigated. The antidots were fabricated using two different techniques, resulting in samples with arrays of diverse pinning efficiency. At low temperatures and fields, the spatial arrangement of Vortex Matter is governed by the presence of the antidots. Keeping the temperature fixed, an increase of the field induces a depinning transition. As the temperature approaches T_c, the depinning frontier exhibits a characteristic kink at the temperature T_k, above which the phase boundary exhibits a different regime. The lower-temperature regime is adequately described by a power-law expression, whose exponent n was observed to be inversely proportional to the pinning capability of the antidot, a feature that qualifies this parameter as a figure of merit to quantify the pinning strength of the defect.