Non-linear rheology of lamellar liquid crystals

We measure the non-linear relation between the shear stress and shear rate in the lyotropic lamellar phase of C₁₂E₅ /water system. The measured shear thinning exponent changes with the surfactant concentration. A simple rheology theory of a lamellar or smectic phase is proposed with a prediction ∼ σ^3/2 , where is the shear rate and σ is the shear stress. We consider that the shear flow passed through the defect structure causes the main dissipation. As the defect line density varies with the shear rate, the shear thinning arises. The defect density is estimated by the dynamic balance between the production and annihilation processes. The defect production is caused by the shear-induced layer undulation instability. The annihilation occurs through the shear-induced defect collision process. Further flow visualization experiment shows that the defect texture correlates strongly with the shear thinning exponent.     

Periodic defect modes of one-dimensional crystals containing single-negative materials

The transmission properties of a one-dimensional (1D) photonic crystal containing two kinds of single-negative (permittivity or permeability negative) material with an inserted array of defects (RHM and LHM) were presented by the transfer matrix method (TMM). The dependence of the defect modes on the structure parameters was discussed by using the TMM. In contrast to the Bragg gaps, the properties (the central frequency and width of the gap) of zero effective phase (zero−φ_eff) and gap are invariant with a change in scale length and insensitive to the incident angles. The property of the periodic defect modes in the SNG host periodic structure was studied. It illustrates that the defect modes properties changed more by insert periodic defect than by single-media defect. The defect modes are sensitive to the parameters of the defect layers and the incident angle.     

Covariant Poisson Brackets in Geometric Field Theory

We establish a link between the multisymplectic and the covariant phase space approach to geometric field theory by showing how to derive the symplectic form on the latter, as introduced by Crnkovi-Witten and Zuckerman, from the multisymplectic form. The main result is that the Poisson bracket associated with this symplectic structure, according to the standard rules, is precisely the covariant bracket due to Peierls and DeWitt.     

Formation of a spiraling line defect and its meandering transition in a period-2 medium

The instability of a period-1 spiral wave resulting in a period-2 spiral wave with a line defect is investigated for the first time in a laboratory system. At the very onset the transition proceeds by an emergence of a spiraling line defect, "breathing" intermittently while retaining its symmetry of a period-1 spiral wave. With a further change in a control parameter, the line defect undergoes a meandering transition producing a compound tip trajectory, following a dynamic shape transition. The observed transitions have a strong analogy to the phase synchronization transition of two coupled nonlinear oscillators and the meandering transition of a period-1 spiral wave.     

Direct calculation of light-induced structural change and diffusive motion in glassy As2Se3

Photostructural change of glassy As2Se3 was simulated on an experimentally credible model with excited electronic dynamics within first-principles molecular dynamics. Bond breaking and bond switching reactions account for local changes around defect sites at the short time phase of illumination. For long-time relaxation, defect pairs associated with band tail states become involved in a rearrangement in the network, giving rise to a low energy, nonlocal "polaronlike" collective oscillation. Diffusive motion is observed for short times, which we tentatively interpret as the initial phase of athermal photomelting.     

Re-integerization of fractional charges in the correlated quarter-filled band

Previous work has demonstrated the existence of soliton defect states with charges +/-e/2 in the limits of zero and infinite on-site Coulomb interactions in the one-dimensional (1D) quarter-filled band. For large but finite on-site Coulomb interaction, the low temperature 2kF bond distortion that occurs within the 4kF bond-distorted phase is accompanied by charge ordering on the sites. We show that a "re-integerization" of the defect charge occurs in this bond-charge-density-wave state due to a "binding" of the fractional charges. We indicate briefly possible implications of this result for mechanisms of organic superconductivity.     

Pendellösung fringes in elastically deformed silicon

The propagation of pairs of coherent X-ray wavefield beams in a crystal deformed elastically by a uniform temperature gradient, has been studied in the symmetric Laue case by observing interference between the beams when they are superimposed on the X-ray exit surface of the crystal. Information concerning the relative phases of the beams was obtained from the position of Pendellösung fringes in section patterns. The measured change of the relative phase between the two beams was in good agreement with predictions made by the theory ofPenning andPolder. Variations in the magnitude and sign of the deformation, in the X-ray wavelength and in the X-ray structure factor resulted in relative phase changes which were in agreement with the theory.     

Dyakonov-Tamm waves guided by a phase-twist combination defect in a sculptured nematic thin film

The propagation of Dyakonov-Tamm waves guided by a phase-twist combination defect in a sculptured nematic thin film (SNTF) was studied theoretically by numerical solution of a dispersion equation. The phase defect was fixed at 180°, whereas the twist defect was kept variable as also the direction of propagation. Multiple Dyakonov-Tamm waves that differ in spatial profile, degree of localization, and phase speed were found to propagate guided by the combination defect, depending on the angle between the morphologically significant planes of the SNTF on either side of the defect as well as on the direction of propagation. The most strongly localized Dyakonov-Tamm waves turned out to be essentially confined within one structural period of the SNTF normal to the combination defect.     

The effect of disorder on polaritons in a coupled array of cavities

The effect of disorder in the intensity of the driving laser on a coupled array ofcavities described by a Bose-Hubbard Hamiltonian for dark-state polaritons isinvestigated. A canonically-transformed Gutzwiller wave function is used to investigatethe phase diagram and dynamics of a one-dimensional system with uniformly distributeddisorder in the Rabi frequency. In the phase diagram, we find the emergence of a Boseglass phase that increases in extent as the strength of the disorder increases. We studythe dynamics of the system when subject to a ramp in the Rabi frequency which, startingfrom the superfluid phase, is decreased linearly and then increased to its initial value.We investigate the dependence of the density of excitations, the relaxation of thesuperfluid order parameter and the excess energy pumped into the system on the inverseramp rate, τ.We find that, in the absence of disorder, the defect density oscillates with a constantenvelope, while the relaxation of the order parameter and excess energy oscillate withτ^-1.5 and τ^-2 envelopes,respectively. In the presence of disorder in the Rabi frequency, the defect densityoscillates with a decaying envelope, the relaxation of the order parameter no longerdecreases as τ increases while the residual energy decreases asτincreases. The rate at which the envelope of the defect density decays increases withincreasing disorder strength, while the excess energy falls off more slowly withincreasing disorder strength.     

Phase transitions in 2-dimensional systems of migrating orientable lattice defects

Phase transitions are studied in a system consisting of reorientating and migrating point defects in a two dimensional lattice. Due to the long range (r ^–2) nature of the dominant elastic interaction, surface effects are of central importance and have to be included. After diagonalizing the elastic interaction energy for defects characterized by arbitrary elastic dipole tensors the free energy of the system is minimized with respect to the tensor defect density (which describes the defect distribution in space and over a discrete number of orientations). Different types of phase transitions are obtained depending on the magnitude of the defect anisotropy. The phase below the paraelastic one is characterized for large by an anisotropic but homogeneous distribution, for small by an anisotropic and inhomogeneous distribution with a non linear space dependence. Similarities and differences with 3d results for=0 (or small) are discussed.     

Statistical mechanics of vacancy and interstitial strings in hexagonal columnar crystals

Columnar crystals contain defects in the form of vacancy-interstitial loops or strings of vacancies and interstitials bounded by column "heads" and "tails." These defect strings are oriented by the columnar lattice and can change size and shape by movement of the ends and by forming kinks along the length. Hence an analysis in terms of directed living polymers [S. A. Safran, Statistical Thermodynamics of Surfaces, Interfaces, and Membranes (Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA, 1994), Sec. 8] is appropriate to study their size and shape distribution, volume fraction, etc. If the entropy of transverse fluctuations overcomes the string line tension in the crystalline phase, a string proliferation transition occurs, leading to a supersolid phase [E. Frey, D. R. Nelson, and D. S. Fisher, Phys. Rev. B 49, 9723 (1994); see also J. Prost, Liq. Cryst. 8, 123 (1990)]. We estimate the wandering entropy and examine the behavior in the transition regime. We also calculate numerically the line tension of various species of vacancies and interstitials in a triangular lattice for power-law potentials as well as for a modified Bessel function interaction between columns such as occurs in the case of flux lines in type-II superconductors or long polyelectrolytes in an ionic solution. We find that the centered interstitial is the lowest-energy defect for a very wide range of interactions; the symmetric vacancy is preferred only for extremely short interaction ranges.     

Cros-relaxation of localized triplet states in diamond

We have performed optically detected spin coherent transient measurements for two distinct localized triplet states in brown colored diamond. The triplet states of interest belong to the N?V center in its ground state and the V?O (or 2.818 eV) center in its photo-excited phosphorescent state, respectively. In this paper we focus on the dynamics of cross-relaxation processes which occur when small magnetic fields are applied in such a way that the defect triplet states of the probed centers are tuned in resonance with other defects in the lattice of different spin temperature. The coherent transients reveal the dynamics of cross-relaxation and pure dephasing processes. A quantitative analysis shows that the observed cross-relaxation arises from magnetic dipolar interactions between the probed defects and randomly distributed other defects in the lattice.     

The use of ENDOR to identify the atomic structure of defects in diamond

Although nearly 100 paramagnetic defects have been catalogued in diamond by spin Hamiltonian parameters measured by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), very few of these have been unambiguously associated with an atomic model. It has been necessary to use electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) to obtain enough information to make proper assignment of such models. The reason for the limitation of EPR, and the way in which ENDOR overcomes these limitations are discussed. The interpretation of hyperfine structure in terms of unpaired electrons in molecular orbitals, and of quadrupole interactions in terms of all electrons, paired and unpaired, as a source of information about molecular structure in diamond, is evaluated by reference to some well documented examples. The measurements so far made by ENDOR on defects in diamond are reviewed, and the salient contribution for the assignment of a model for each defect is explained. The details revealed by ENDOR considerably increase knowledge about defects, particularly those involving substitutional nitrogen atoms. This in turn helps in understanding the complex electron and atom, migration processes which go on under appropriate conditions of temperature and pressure, or optical excitation. The possibilities are discussed for using ENDOR to increase the number of well characterized centres.     

Optical manipulation of defects in a lyotropic lamellar phase

Here we study the line defect in a hyperswollen lamellar phase of lyotropic liquid crystal by applying a laser trapping method. We have succeeded in directly measuring the tension of a single isolated line defect and the adhesion energy between two defects. We demonstrate a new possibility of intentional patterning of various defects by direct optical manipulation. Furthermore, local rheological measurements provide information on the membrane organization around a particle and also evidence suggesting that flow in a lamellar phase has a two-dimensional nature.     

Normalization of Quantized Area Using Torsion and Spin

We calculate the change in physical space-time area associated with defects in space-time due to torsion when a particle with spin is present. This change in area is then set equal to the component of the quantized area due to a link of color P_l in the spin network originally calculated by Rovelli and Smolin [6] and shown to have an arbitrary constant factor, the Immirzi parameter, by several authors. Using the usual quantization condition for the square of the spin then allows us to calculate this arbitrary constant factor. We find a well defined expression for the quantized area, . An interesting picture emerges where a missing link of color P_l in the spin network looks like a torsional defect in space-time associated with a particle of spin j_l = P_l/ 2.     

Observation of broad EPR spectra of transient free radicals by FT-EPR

Application of electron spin echo Fourier transform EPR (ESE-FT-EPR) to photo-induced chemical reactions is presented. Main purpose of this study is to observe broad EPR spectra of free radicals having very shortT ₂ ^* by means of the ESE-FT-EPR technique. Details of the experimental procedures are described. In ESE experiments design of the resonator is important to obtain sufficient spectral bandwidth because of use of multiple pulses which decrease the bandwidth. We designed and constructed Loop-Gap-Resonantors (LGR) for light irradiation experiments and their specifications were examined. The phase cycling method is essential to obtain pure ESE signals and proper time resolution by eliminating unwanted FID signals which result from imperfect pulse angles. We applied this technique to observe the photo-induced electron transfer reaction between tetraphenylporphinato zinc(II) (ZnTPP) and duroquinone (DQ) in an ethanol solution, and successfully observed the time resolved EPR spectra of the both Zn(TPP) cation and DQ anion radicals by ESE-FT-EPR of the Hahn echo. The half-height full-width of envelope of EPR spectrum of Zn(TPP)⁺, which is never observed in ordinary FT-EPR, is about 16 MHz. Specificity of spectra and the time resolution are compared among the ESE-FT-, FT- and cw-Time-Resolved-EPR (cw-TREPR) techniques.     

Interface delocalization in the three-dimensional Ising model

The interface delocalization in the three-dimensional Ising model is studied by real-space renormalization group methods. The first-order cumulant expansion approximation is used. Defect free energies for a boundary plane of defects and an internal plane of defects are calculated in the whole temperature region. The phase diagrams are also obtained. The method and the model analyzed may give a correct phase diagram only in the regime of continuous interface delocalization. The interface delocalization is obtained for the boundary defect and also for the internal defect if the systems on two sides of the internal defect plane have a different degree of order. The delocalization transition does not occur in the case of the internal defect plane between two equally ordered systems.     

Helmholtz equation in periodic media with a line defect

We consider the Helmholtz equation in an unbounded periodic media perturbed by an unbounded defect whose structure is compatible with the periodicity of the underlying media. We exhibit a method coupling Dirichlet-to-Neumann maps with the Lippmann–Schwinger equation approach to solve this problem, where the Floquet–Bloch transform in the direction of the defect plays a central role. We establish full convergence estimates that makes the link between the rate of decay of a function and the good behavior of a quadrature rule to approximate the inverse Floquet–Bloch transform. Finally we exhibit a few numerical results to illustrate the efficiency of the method.     

Clustering and cooperative dynamics in a reactive system

We study the dependence of the dynamics on the size of particle clusters that grow by stepwise aggregation in a reactive epoxy-amine mixture. The data reveal the cluster property involved in the glasslike arrest and its quantitative link with the structural relaxation time. We find that the number-average cluster size xn governs the formation of a glassy phase as distinct from a gel phase, and that xn correlates to the size of the "cooperatively rearranging regions" postulated by the Adam-Gibbs model for glass forming liquids. These results suggest that the step polymerization process generates clusters that behave much like dynamical heterogeneities observed in supercooled liquids.     

Application of thermal wave imaging and phase shifting method for defect detection in Stainless steel

This paper presents an experimental arrangement for detection of artificial subsurface defects in a stainless steel sample by means of thermal wave imaging with lock-in thermography and consequently, the impact of excitation frequency on defect detectability. The experimental analysis was performed at several excitation frequencies to observe the sample beginning from 0.18 Hz all the way down to 0.01 Hz. The phase contrast between the defective and sound regions illustrates the qualitative and quantitative investigation of defects. The two, three, four and five-step phase shifting methods are investigated to obtain the information on defects. A contrast to noise ratio analysis was applied to each phase shifting method allowing the choice of the most appropriate one. Phase contrast with four-step phase shifting at an optimum frequency of 0.01 Hz provides excellent results. The inquiry with the effect of defect size and depth on phase contrast shows that phase contrast decreases with increase in defect depth and increases with the increase in defect size.