Dipole-Induced Transition in 3-Dimensions

Abstract

The Kosterlitz-Thouless and the Hexatic phase transitions are celebrated examples of dipole (vortex, dislocation) induced transitions in condensed matter physics. For very clear reasons, these important ``topological" transitions are restricted to 2-dimensions. Here we present a genuine dipole-induced transition in the 3-dimensional response of (athermal) amorphous solids to applied strain. Similarly to the existence of a hexatic phase between normal solid and fluid, we identify an intermediate phase between a phase of normal elastic response at high pressure, and fluid matter at zero pressure. The mechanical response in the intermediate phase is accompanied by plasticity that is generically associated with ``non-affine" quadrupolar events seen in the resulting displacement field. Gradients of the quadrupolar fields act as dipole charges that screen elasticity, breaking both translational and Chiral symmetries. We highlight {\em angular} correlations that exhibit diverging correlation lengths at this transition and determine the critical scaling exponents.