Modeling and mesoscopic damage constitutive relation of brittle short-fiber-reinforced composites

Aimed at brittle composites reinforced by randomly distributed short-fibers with a relatively large aspect ratio, stiffness modulus and strength, a mesoscopic material model was proposed. Based on the statistical description, damage mechanisms, damage-induced anisotropy, damage rate effect and stress redistribution, the constitutive relation were derived. By taking glass fiber reinforced polypropylene polymers as an example, the effect of initial orientation distribution of fibers, damage-induced anisotropy, and damage-rate effect on macro-behaviors of composites were quantitatively analyzed. The theoretical predictions compared favorably with the experimental results.

Numerical simulation of rock failure and earthquake process on mesoscopic scale

On the basis of the lattice model of MORA and PLACE, Discrete Element Method, and Molecular Dynamics approach, another kind of numerical model is developed. The model consists of a 2-D set of particles linked by three kinds of interactions and arranged into triangular lattice. After the fracture criterion and rules of changes between linking states are given, the particle positions, velocities and accelerations at every time step are calculated using a finite-difference scheme, and the configuration of particles can be gained step by step. Using this model, realistic fracture simulations of brittle solid (especially under pressure) and simulation of earthquake dynamics are made.

Influence of stochastic mesoscopic structure on macroscopic mechanical behavior of brittle material

A newly developed numerical code, MFPA(2D) (Material Failure Process Analysis), is applied to study the influence of stochastic mesoscopic structure on macroscopic mechanical behavior of rock-like materials. A set of uniaxial compression tests has been numerically studied with numerical specimens containing pre-existing crack-like flaw. The numerical results reveal the influence of random mesoscopic structure on failure process of brittle material, which indicates that the variation of failure mode is strongly sensitive to the local disorder feature of the specimen. And the patterns of the crack evolution in the specimens are very different from each other due to the random mesoscopic structure in material. The results give a good explanation for various kinds of fracture modes and peak strength variation observed in laboratory studies with specimens made from the same rock block being statistically homogenous in macro scale. In addition, the evolution of crack is more complicated in heterogeneous cases than in homogeneous cases.

Anisotropic spin transport in two-terminal mesoscopic rings: Rashba and Dresselhaus spin-orbit interactions

We theoretically investigate the spin transport in two-terminal mesoscopic rings in the presence of both the Rashba spin-orbit interaction (RSOI) and the Dresselhaus spin-orbit interaction (DSOI). We find that the interplay between the RSOI and DSOI breaks the original cylindric symmetry of the mesoscopic rings and consequently leads to the anisotropic spin transport, i.e., the conductance is sensitive to the positions of the incoming and outgoing leads. The anisotropic spin transport can survive even in the presence of disorder caused by impurity elastic scattering in a realistic system.

Charge and spin currents in a three-terminal mesoscopic ring

We theoretically investigate the charge and spin currents in a three-terminal mesoscopic ring in the presence of a uniform and nonuniform Rashba spin-orbit interaction (SOI). It is shown that a fully spin-polarized charge current and a pure spin current can be generated by tuning the probe voltages and/or the strength of the Rashba SOI. The charge and spin currents oscillate as the strength of the Rashba SOI increases induced by the spin quantum interference. The ratio of probe voltages oscillates synchronously with the pure spin current as the strength of the Rashba SOI increases in a nonuniform Rashba ring, while it remains constant in a uniform Rashba ring. We demonstrate theoretically that a three-terminal uniform Rashba ring can be used as a spin polarizer and/or spin flipper for different spin injections, and a nonuniform Rashba ring could allow us to detect the pure spin current electrically. (C) 2009 American Institute of Physics. [DOI 10.1063/1.3054322]

Quantum master-equation approach to quantum transport through mesoscopic systems

For quantum transport through mesoscopic systems, a quantum master-equation approach is developed in terms of compact expressions for the transport current and the reduced density matrix of the system. The present work is an extension of Gurvitz's approach for quantum transport and quantum measurement, namely, to finite temperature and arbitrary bias voltage. Our derivation starts from a second-order cumulant expansion of the tunneling Hamiltonian; then follows the conditional average over the electrode reservoir states. As a consequence, in the usual weak-tunneling regime, the established formalism is applicable for a wide range of transport problems. The validity of the formalism and its convenience in application are well illustrated by a number of examples.

Calculation of the current noise spectrum in mesoscopic transport: A quantum master equation approach

Based on our recent work on quantum transport [X. Q. Li , Phys. Rev. B 71, 205304 (2005)], we show how an efficient calculation can be performed for the current noise spectrum. Compared to the classical rate equation or the quantum trajectory method, the proposed approach is capable of tackling both the many-body Coulomb interaction and quantum coherence on an equal footing. The practical applications are illustrated by transport through quantum dots. We find that this alternative approach is in a certain sense simpler and more straightforward than the well-known Landauer-Buttiker scattering matrix theory.

Mesoscopic Fano effect modulated by Rashba spin-orbit coupling and external magnetic field

By employing non-equilibrium Green's function method, the mesoscopic Fano effect modulated by Rashba spin-orbit (SO) coupling and external magnetic field has been elucidated for electron transport through a hybrid system composed of a quantum dot (QD) and an Aharonov-Bohm (AB) ring. The results show that the orientation of the Fano line shape is modulated by the Rashba spin-orbit interaction k(R)L variation, which reveals that the Fano parameter q will be extended to a complex number, although the system maintains time-reversal symmetry (TRS) under the Rashba SO interaction. Furthermore, it is shown that the modulation of the external magnetic field, which is applied not only inside the frame, but also on the QD, leads to the Fano resonance split due to Zeeman effect, which indicates that the hybrid is an ideal candidate for the spin readout device. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved.

Spin states and persistent currents in mesoscopic rings: Spin-orbit interactions

We investigate theoretically electron spin states in one-dimensional and two-dimensional (2D) hard-wall mesoscopic rings in the presence of both the Rashba spin-orbit interaction (RSOI) and the Dresselhaus spin-orbit interaction (DSOI) in a perpendicular magnetic field. The Hamiltonian of the RSOI alone is mathematically equivalent to that of the DSOI alone using an SU(2) spin rotation transformation. Our theoretical results show that the interplay between the RSOI and DSOI results in an effective periodic potential, which consequently leads to gaps in the energy spectrum. This periodic potential also weakens and smoothens the oscillations of the persistent charge current and spin current and results in the localization of electrons. For a 2D ring with a finite width, higher radial modes destroy the periodic oscillations of persistent currents.

Quantum waveguide theory for hole transport in mesoscopic structures

A quantum waveguide theory is proposed for hole transport in the mesoscopic structures, including the band mixing effect. We found that due to the interference between the 'light' hole and 'heavy' wave, the transmission and reflection coefficients oscillate more irregularly as a function of incident wave vector geometry parameters. Furthermore conversion between the heavy hole and light hole states occurs at the intersection. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Quantum fluctuation of dissipative mesoscopic capacitance coupling circuit

The quantum wave function and the corresponding energy levels of the dissipative mesoscopic capacitance coupling circuits are obtained by using unitary and linear transformations. The quantum fluctuation of charge and current in an arbitrary eigenstate of the system have been also given. The results show that the fluctuation of charge and current depends on not only the eigenstate but also the electronic device parameters.

Energy spectrum and persistent currents in finite-width mesoscopic ring with radial potential barrier threading a magnetic flux through its hole

The energy spectrum and the persistent currents are calculated for a finite-width mesoscopic annulus with radial potential barrier, threading a magnetic flux through the hole of the ring. Owing to the presence of tunneling barrier, the coupling effect leads to the splitting of each radial energy subband of individual concentrical rings into two one. Thus, total currents and currents carried by single high-lying eigenstate as a function of magnetic flux exhibit complicated patterns. However, periodicity and antisymmetry of current curves in the flux still preserve.

QUANTUM WAVE-GUIDE THEORY FOR MESOSCOPIC STRUCTURES

A one-dimensional quantum waveguide theory for mesoscopic structures is proposed, and the boundary conditions of the wave functions at an intersection are given. The Aharonov-Bohm effect is quantitatively discussed with use of this theory, and the reflection, transmission amplitudes, etc., are given as functions of the magnetic flux, the arm lengths, and the wave vector. It is found that the oscillating current consists of a significant component of the second harmonic. This theory is also applied to investigate quantum-interference devices. The results on the Aharonov-Bohm effect and the quantum-interference devices are found to be in agreement with previous theoretical results.

Structures of energy spectrum and persistent currents in mesoscopic rings with radial potential barrier in magnetic field

The energy spectrum and the persistent currents are calculated for finite-width mesoscopic annular structures with radial potential barrier in the presence of a magnetic field. The introduction of the tunneling barrier leads to the creation of extra edge states around the barrier and the occurrence of oscillatory structures superimposed on the bulk Landau level plateaus in the energy spectrum. We found that the Fermi energy E-F increases with the number of electrons N emerging many kinks. The single eigenstate persistent current exhibits complicated structures with vortex-like texture, ''bifurcation'', and multiple ''furcation'' patterns as N is increased. The total currents versus N display wild fluctuations.

Quantum Measurement of Single Electron State by a Mesoscopic Detector

A realistic measurement setup for a system such system measured by a mesoscopie detector,is theoretically as a charged two-state （qubit） or multi-state quantum studied. To properly describe the measurement-induced back-action,a detailed-balance preserved quantum master equation treatment is developed. The established framework is applicable for arbitrary voltages and temperatures.