epsilon-expansions near three dimensions from conformal field theory

We formally extend the CFT techniques introduced in arXiv: 1505.00963, to phi(2d0/d0-2) theory in d = d(0) dimensions and use it to compute anomalous dimensions near d(0) = 3, 4 in a unified manner. We also do a similar analysis of the O(N) model in three dimensions by developing a recursive combinatorial approach for OPE contractions. Our results match precisely with low loop perturbative computations. Finally, using 3-point correlators in the CFT, we comment on why the phi(3) theory in d(0) = 6 is qualitatively different.

Use of polydispersity index as control parameter to study melting/freezing of Lennard-Jones system: Comparison among predictions of bifurcation theory with Lindemann criterion, inherent structure analysis and Hansen-Verlet rule

Using polydispersity index as an additional order parameter we investigate freezing/melting transition of Lennard-Jones polydisperse systems (with Gaussian polydispersity in size), especially to gain insight into the origin of the terminal polydispersity. The average inherent structure (IS) energy and root mean square displacement (RMSD) of the solid before melting both exhibit quite similar polydispersity dependence including a discontinuity at solid-liquid transition point. Lindemann ratio, obtained from RMSD, is found to be dependent on temperature. At a given number density, there exists a value of polydispersity index (delta (P)) above which no crystalline solid is stable. This transition value of polydispersity(termed as transition polydispersity, delta (P) ) is found to depend strongly on temperature, a feature missed in hard sphere model systems. Additionally, for a particular temperature when number density is increased, delta (P) shifts to higher values. This temperature and number density dependent value of delta (P) saturates surprisingly to a value which is found to be nearly the same for all temperatures, known as terminal polydispersity (delta (TP)). This value (delta (TP) similar to 0.11) is in excellent agreement with the experimental value of 0.12, but differs from hard sphere transition where this limiting value is only 0.048. Terminal polydispersity (delta (TP)) thus has a quasiuniversal character. Interestingly, the bifurcation diagram obtained from non-linear integral equation theories of freezing seems to provide an explanation of the existence of unique terminal polydispersity in polydisperse systems. Global bond orientational order parameter is calculated to obtain further insights into mechanism for melting.

Electronic and Magnetic Properties of Yttrium-doped Silicon Carbide Nanotubes: Density Functional Theory Investigations

The electronic structure of yttrium-doped Silicon Carbide Nanotubes has been theoretically investigated using first principles density functional theory (DFT). Yttrium atom is bonded strongly on the surface of the nanotube with a binding energy of 2.37 eV and prefers to stay on the hollow site at a distance of around 2.25 angstrom from the tube. The semi-conducting nanotube with chirality (4, 4) becomes half mettalic with a magnetic moment of 1.0 mu(B) due to influence of Y atom on the surface. There is strong hybridization between d orbital of Y with p orbital of Si and C causing a charge transfer from d orbital of the Y atom to the tube. The Fermi level is shifted towards higher energy with finite Density of States for only upspin channel making the system half metallic and magnetic which may have application in spintronic devices.

Pyrolysis of 3-carene: Experiment, Theory and Modeling

Thermal decomposition studies of 3-carene, a bio-fuel, have been carried out behind the reflected shock wave in a single pulse shock tube for temperature ranging from 920 K to 1220 K. The observed products in thermal decomposition of 3-carene are acetylene, allene, butadiene, isoprene, cyclopentadiene, hexatriene, benzene, toluene and p-xylene. The overall rate constant for 3-carene decomposition was found to be k/s(-1) = 10((9.95 +/- 0.54)) exp(-40.88 +/- 2.71 kcal mol(-1) /RT). Ab-initio theoretical calculations were carried out to find the minimum energy pathway that could explain the formation of the observed products in the thermal decomposition experiments. These calculations were carried out at B3LYP/6-311 + G(d,p) and G3 level of theories. A kinetic mechanism explaining the observed products in the thermal decomposition experiments has been derived. It is concluded that the linear hydrocarbons are the primary products in the pyrolysis of 3-carene.

Trace Formulae in Operator Theory

In this article, we survey several kinds of trace formulas that one encounters in the theory of single and multi-variable operators. We give some sketches of the proofs, often based on the principle of finite-dimensional approximations to the objects at hand in the formulas.

Pattern formation in thin films of polymer solutions: Theory and simulations

Self-assembly has been recognized as an efficient tool for generating a wide range of functional, chemically, or physically textured surfaces for applications in small scale devices. In this work, we investigate the stability of thin films of polymer solutions. For low concentrations of polymer in the solution, long length scale dewetting patterns are obtained with wavelength approximately few microns. Whereas, for concentrations above a critical value, bimodal dispersion curves are obtained with the dominant wavelength being up to two orders smaller than the usual dewetting length scale. We further show that the short wavelength corresponds to the phase separation in the film resulting in uniformly distributed high and low concentration regions. Interestingly, due to the solvent entropy, at very high concentration values of polymer, a re-entrant behaviour is observed with the dominant length scale now again corresponding to the dewetting wavelength. Thus, we show that the binary films of polymer solutions provide additional control parameters that can be utilized for generating functional textured surfaces for various applications. (C) 2016 AIP Publishing LLC.

Density functional theory based study of chlorine doped WS2-metal interface

Investigation of a transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD)-metal interface is essential for the effective functioning of monolayer TMD based field effect transistors. In this work, we employ the Density Functional Theory calculations to analyze the modulation of the electronic structure of monolayer WS2 with chlorine doping and the relative changes in the contact properties when interfaced with gold and palladium. We initially examine the atomic and electronic structures of pure and doped monolayer WS2 supercell and explore the formation of midgap states with band splitting near the conduction band edge. Further, we analyze the contact nature of the pure supercell with Au and Pd. We find that while Au is physiosorbed and forms n-type contact, Pd is chemisorped and forms p-type contact with a higher valence electron density. Next, we study the interface formed between the Cl-doped supercell and metals and observe a reduction in the Schottky barrier height (SBH) in comparison to the pure supercell. This reduction found is higher for Pd in comparison to Au, which is further validated by examining the charge transfer occurring at the interface. Our study confirms that Cl doping is an efficient mechanism to reduce the n-SBH for both Au and Pd, which form different types of contact with WS2. (C) 2016 AIP Publishing LLC.

A peridynamic theory for linear elastic shells

A state-based peridynamic formulation for linear elastic shells is presented. The emphasis is on introducing, possibly for the first time, a general surface based peridynamic model to represent the deformation characteristics of structures that have one geometric dimension much smaller than the other two. A new notion of curved bonds is exploited to cater for force transfer between the peridynamic particles describing the shell. Starting with the three dimensional force and deformation states, appropriate surface based force, moment and several deformation states are arrived at. Upon application on the curved bonds, such states yield the necessary force and deformation vectors governing the motion of the shell. By incorporating a shear correction factor, the formulation also accommodates analysis of shells that have higher thickness. In order to attain this, a consistent second order approximation to the complementary energy density is considered and incorporated in peridynamics via constitutive correspondence. Unlike the uncoupled constitution for thin shells, a consequence of a first order approximation, constitutive relations for thick shells are fully coupled in that surface wryness influences the in-plane stress resultants and surface strain the moments. Our proposal on the peridynamic shell theory is numerically assessed against simulations on static deformation of spherical and cylindrical shells, that of flat plates and quasi-static fracture propagation in a cylindrical shell. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Dislocation theory of the fracture criterion for anisotropic solids

A dislocation theory of fracture criterion for the mixed dislocation emission and cleavage process in an anisotropic solid is developed in this paper. The complicated cases involving mixed-mode loading are considered here. The explicit formula for dislocations interaction with a semi-infinite crack is obtained. The governing equation for the critical condition of crack cleavage in an anisotropic solid after a number dislocation emissions is established. The effects of elastic anisotropy, crack geometry and load phase angle on the critical energy release rate and the total number of the emitted dislocations at the onset of cleavage are analysed in detail. The analyses revealed that the critical energy release rates can increase to one or two magnitudes larger than the surface energy because of the dislocation emission. It is also found elastic anisotropy and crystal orientation have significant effects on the critical energy release rates. The anisotropic values can be several times the isotropic value in one crack orientation. The values may be as much as 40% less than the isotropic value in another crack orientation and another anisotropy parameter. Then the theory is applied to a fee single crystal. An edge dislocation can emit from the crack tip along the most highly shear stressed slip plane. Crack cleavage can occur along the most highly stressed slip plane after a number of dislocation emissions. Calculation is carried out step by step. Each step we should judge by which slip system is the most highly shear stressed slip system and which slip system has the largest energy release rate. The calculation clearly shows that the crack orientation and the load phase angle have significant effects on the crystal brittle-ductile behaviours.

Complex potentials and singular integral equation for curve crack problem in antiplane elasticity

Four types of the fundamental complex potential in antiplane elasticity are introduced: (a) a point dislocation, (b) a concentrated force, (c) a dislocation doublet and (d) a concentrated force doublet. It is proven that if the axis of the concentrated force doublet is perpendicular to the direction of the dislocation doublet, the relevant complex potentials are equivalent. Using the obtained complex potentials, a singular integral equation for the curve crack problem is introduced. Some particular features of the obtained singular integral equation are discussed, and numerical solutions and examples are given.

Application of Similarity Theory to the Characterization of Non-Transferred Laminar Plasma Jet Generation

Laminar-flow non-transferred DC plasma jets were generated by a torch with an inter-electrode insert by which the arc column was limited to a length of about 20 mm. Current–voltage characteristics, thermal efficiency and jet length, a parameter which changes greatly with the generating parameters in contrast with the almost unchangeable jet length of the turbulent plasma, were investigated systematically, by using the similarity theory combined with the corresponding experimental examination. Formulae in non-dimensional forms were derived for predicting the characteristics of the laminar plasma jet generation, within the parameter ranges where no transfer to turbulent flow occurs. Mean arc temperature in the torch channel and mean jet-flow temperature at the torch exit were obtained, and the results indicate that the thermal conductivity feature of the working gas seems to be an important factor affecting thermal efficiency of laminar plasma generation.

A Numerical Model of Rapid Solidification Processing of Ni-Al Alloy in Planar Flow Casting

A numerical model has been developed for simulating the rapid solidification processing (RSP) of Ni-Al alloy in order to predict the resultant phase composition semi-quantitatively during RSP. The present model couples the initial nucleation temperature evaluating method based on the time dependent nucleation theory, and solidified volume fraction calculation model based on the kinetics model of dendrite growth in undercooled melt. This model has been applied to predict the cooling curve and the volume fraction of solidified phases of Ni-Al alloy in planar flow casting. The numerical results agree with the experimental results semi-quantitatively.

Strain gradient theory with couple stress for crystalline solids

A new phenomenological strain gradient theory for crystalline solid is proposed. It fits within the framework of general couple stress theory and involves a single material length scale Ics. In the present theory three rotational degrees of freedom omega (i) are introduced, which denote part of the material angular displacement theta (i) and are induced accompanying the plastic deformation. omega (i) has no direct dependence upon u(i) while theta = (1 /2) curl u. The strain energy density omega is assumed to consist of two parts: one is a function of the strain tensor epsilon (ij) and the curvature tensor chi (ij), where chi (ij) = omega (i,j); the other is a function of the relative rotation tensor alpha (ij). alpha (ij) = e(ijk) (omega (k) - theta (k)) plays the role of elastic rotation reason The anti-symmetric part of Cauchy stress tau (ij) is only the function of alpha (ij) and alpha (ij) has no effect on the symmetric part of Cauchy stress sigma (ij) and the couple stress m(ij). A minimum potential principle is developed for the strain gradient deformation theory. In the limit of vanishing l(cs), it reduces to the conventional counterparts: J(2) deformation theory. Equilibrium equations, constitutive relations and boundary conditions are given in detail. For simplicity, the elastic relation between the anti-symmetric part of Cauchy stress tau (ij), and alpha (ij) is established and only one elastic constant exists between the two tensors. Combining the same hardening law as that used in previously by other groups, the present theory is used to investigate two typical examples, i.e., thin metallic wire torsion and ultra-thin metallic beam bend, the analytical results agree well with the experiment results. While considering the, stretching gradient, a new hardening law is presented and used to analyze the two typical problems. The flow theory version of the present theory is also given.

The Flow Theory of Mechanism-Based Strain Gradient Plasticity

The flow theory of mechanism-based strain gradient (MSG) plasticity is established in this paper following the same multiscale, hierarchical framework for the deformation theory of MSG plasticity in order to connect with the Taylor model in dislocation mechanics. We have used the flow theory of MSG plasticity to study micro-indentation hardness experiments. The difference between deformation and flow theories is vanishingly small, and both agree well with experimental hardness data. We have also used the flow theory of MSG plasticity to investigate stress fields around a stationary mode-I crack tip as well as around a steady state, quasi-statically growing crack tip. At a distance to crack tip much larger than dislocation spacings such that continuum plasticity still applies, the stress level around a stationary crack tip in MSG plasticity is significantly higher than that in classical plasticity. The same conclusion is also established for a steady state, quasi-statically growing crack tip, though only the flow theory can be used because of unloading during crack propagation. This significant stress increase due to strain gradient effect provides a means to explain the experimentally observed cleavage fracture in ductile materials [J. Mater. Res. 9 (1994) 1734, Scripta Metall. Mater. 31 (1994) 1037; Interface Sci. 3(1996) 169].