Effective medium theory of left-handed materials

We analyze the transmission and reflection data obtained through transfer matrix calculations on metamaterials of finite lengths, to determine their effective permittivity epsilon and permeability micro. Our study concerns metamaterial structures composed of periodic arrangements of wires, cut wires, split ring resonators (SRRs), closed SRRs, and both wires and SRRs. We find that the SRRs have a strong electric response, equivalent to that of cut wires, which dominates the behavior of left-handed materials (LHM). Analytical expressions for the effective parameters of the different structures are given, which can be used to explain the transmission characteristics of LHMs. Of particular relevance is the criterion introduced by our studies to identify if an experimental transmission peak is left or right handed.     

Anisotropic random networks of semiflexible polymers

Motivated by the organization of cross-linked cytoskeletal biopolymers, we present a semimicroscopic replica field theory for the formation of anisotropic random networks of semiflexible polymers. The networks are formed by introducing random permanent cross-links which fix the orientations of the corresponding polymer segments to align with one another. Upon increasing the cross-link density, we obtain a continuous gelation transition from a fluid phase to a gel where a finite fraction of the system gets localized at random positions. For sufficiently stiff polymers, this positional localization is accompanied by a continuous isotropic-to-nematic (IN) transition occurring at the same cross-link density. As the polymer stiffness decreases, the IN transition becomes first order, shifts to a higher cross-link density, and is preceded by an amorphous solid where the average polymer orientations freeze in random directions.     

Mechanics of bundled semiflexible polymer networks

While actin bundles are used by living cells for structural fortification, the microscopic origin of the elasticity of bundled networks is not understood. Here, we show that above a critical concentration of the actin binding protein fascin, a solution of actin filaments organizes into a pure network of bundles. While the elasticity of weakly cross-linked networks is dominated by the affine deformation of tubes, the network of bundles can be fully understood in terms of nonaffine bending undulations.     

Deformation of cross-linked semiflexible polymer networks

Networks of filamentous proteins play a crucial role in cell mechanics. These cytoskeletal networks, together with various cross-linking and other associated proteins largely determine the (visco)elastic response of cells. In this Letter we study a model system of cross-linked, stiff filaments in order to explore the connection between the microstructure under strain and the macroscopic response of cytoskeletal networks. We find two distinct regimes as a function primarily of cross-link density and filament rigidity: one characterized by affine deformation and one by nonaffine deformation. We characterize the crossover between these two.     

Alternative explanation of stiffening in cross-linked semiflexible networks

Strain stiffening of filamentous protein networks is explored by means of a finite strain analysis of a two-dimensional network model of cross-linked semiflexible filaments. The results show that stiffening is caused by nonaffine network rearrangements that govern a transition from a bending-dominated response at small strains to a stretching-dominated response at large strains. Filament undulations, which are key in the existing explanation of stiffening, merely postpone the transition.     

Filamin cross-linked semiflexible networks: fragility under strain

The semiflexible F-actin network of the cytoskeleton is cross-linked by a variety of proteins including filamin, which contains Ig domains that unfold under applied tension. We examine a simple filament network model cross-linked by such unfolding linkers that captures the main mechanical features of F-actin networks cross-linked by filamin proteins and show that, under sufficient strain, the network spontaneously self-organizes so that an appreciable fraction of the filamin cross-linkers are at the threshold of domain unfolding. We propose and test a mean-field model to account for this effect. We also suggest a qualitative experimental signature of this type of network reorganization under applied strain that may be observable in intracellular microrheology experiments of Crocker et al.     

Rheology and DWS microrheology of concentrated suspensions of the semiflexible filamentous fd virus

Microrheology measurements were performed on suspensions of bacteriophage fd with diffusive wave spectroscopy in the concentrated regime, at different values of ionic strength. Viscosity vs. shear rate was also measured, and the effect of bacteriophage concentration and salt addition on shear thinning was determined, as well as on the peaks in the viscosity vs. shear curves corresponding to a transition from tumbling to wagging flow. The influence of concentration and salt addition on the mean square displacement of microspheres embedded in the suspensions was determined, as well as on their viscoelastic moduli up to high angular frequencies. Our results were compared with another microrheology technique previously reported where the power spectral density of thermal fluctuations of embedded micron-sized particles was evaluated. Although both results in general agree, the diffusive wave spectroscopy results are much less noisy and can reach larger frequencies. A comparison was made between measured and calculated shear modulus. Calculations were made employing the theory for highly entangled isotropic solutions of semiflexible polymers using a tube model, where various ways of calculating the needed parameters were used. Although some features are captured by the model, it is far from the experimental results mainly at high frequencies.     

Effective medium theory of checkboard structures in the long-wavelength limit

Effective medium theory is a powerful tool to solve various problems for achieving multifarious functionalities and applications. In this article, we present a concise empirical formula about effective permittivity of checkboard structures for different directions. To verify our empirical formula, we perform simulations of checkboard periodic structures in squares, rectangles, and sectors in two dimensions. Our results show that the formula is valid in a large range of parameters. This work provides a new way to understand and design composite materials, which might lead to further optical applications in transformation optics.     

High-frequency stress relaxation in semiflexible polymer solutions and networks

We measure the linear viscoelasticity of sterically entangled and chemically cross-linked networks of actin filaments over more than five decades of frequency. The high-frequency response reveals rich dynamics unique to semiflexible polymers, including a previously unobserved relaxation due to rapid axial tension propagation. For high molecular weight, and for cross-linked gels, we obtain quantitative agreement with predicted shear moduli in both amplitude and frequency dependence.     

Effective medium theory applied to frequency selective surfaces on periodic substrates

We apply the effective medium theory combined with the conventional periodic method of moments （MoM） to analyze frequency selective surfaces （FSSs） on periodic and anisotropic substrates. Based on the effective medium theory, even periodic and anisotropic substrates can be considered homogeneous; thus, the Green’s function can be obtained. The resulting integral equation can then be solved by the MoM using rooftop basis functions and Galerkin testing functions. We analyze an example using this technique, and the numerical results agree with Fallahi’s full-vector semi-analytical method, showing an increasing difference between the results as the frequencies increase. These results show that the proposed method is effective for analyzing FSSs on periodic and anisotropic substrates.     

Effective medium theory of A.C. Hopping conductivity for random-bond lattice models

We apply standard effective medium techniques to calculate the A.C. hopping conductivity of a system where the sites are located on a regular lattice but the intersite hop-rate is a random variable. The method is a generalization of Kirkpatrick's treatment of the D.C. conductivity of such a system. The results are compared with exact solution of the one-dimensional bond percolation problem and good agreement is found.     

非长波极限下二维光子晶体中横电模的等效介质理论

基于Mie散射理论, 推导、建立了适用于非长波极限的二维光子晶体中横电模的等效介质理论. 随后利用该理论探讨了二维光子晶体中横电模的负折射特性和零折射特性, 计算结果与相应的能带结构相符合, 验证了该理论在非长波极限条件下的适用性. 更进一步的是, 使用该理论能得到从能带结构中无法获取的额外信息.     

Effective medium in dispersed systems

A structural analysis of effective medium formed by dispersed systems from the viewpoint of flux modification at large dispersions is presented. The effective medium coefficient is investigated for its parametric dependence and the effective properties are estimated through this dependence. This estimation covers all highly dispersed two-phase systems including the effect of container.     

Disordered ferromagnetic alloys — Effective medium

The transition temperature and critical concentration of randomly disordered A_χB_1?χ alloys, where A is the magnetic constituent of the alloy, have been investigated. The effects of second neighbor A-A and of nearest neighbor A-B interactions, both ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic, have been included. Molecular field, assumed to hold within small enough regions, together with percolation theory are used to formulate an effective magnetic medium.