arXiv subjects

M. E. Cates

Publications and source records attributed to M. E. Cates.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

arXiv2001

Phase ordering of two-dimensional symmetric binary fluids: a droplet scaling state

The late-stage phase ordering, in $d=2$ dimensions, of symmetric fluid mixtures violates dynamical scaling. We show however that, even at 50/50 volume fractions, if an asymmetric droplet morphology is initially present then this sustains itself, throughout the viscous hydrodynamic regime, by a `coalescence-induced coalescence' mechanism. Scaling is recovered (with length scale $l \sim t$, as in $d=3$). The crossover to the inertial hydrodynamic regime is delayed even longer than in $d=3$; on entering it, full symmetry is finally restored and we find $l\sim t^{2/3}$, regardless of the initial state.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2000

Swelling and Dissolution of onion phases: The effect of temperature

Contact experiments have been performed between an onion lamellar phase and brine, in the SDS/octanol/brine system. Using video microscopy we have studied the nonequilibrium behaviour of the swelling and dissolution process of onions. Experiments at T=20degC and 30degC showed that temperature has a strong effect on their bahaviour. At low temperature onions are observed to diffuse away from the onion phase and only swell slightly. However by increasing the temperature we induce the formation of the sponge phase at the onion/brine interface. Onions that initailly swell then dissolve into sponge phase expel a stable core which moves to the micellar phase and remains stable there. Over a longer period of time (several days) we have also observed coalescence leading to the formation of large onions of up to 100microns in diameter. These huge onions have a radial distribution of domains, or solvent cavities, within them.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2000

Kinetic pathways of multi-phase surfactant systems

The relaxation following a temperature quench of two-phase (lamellar and sponge phase) and three-phase (lamellar, sponge and micellar phase) samples, has been studied in an SDS/octanol/brine system. In the three-phase case we have observed samples that are initially mainly sponge phase with lamellar and micellar phase on the top and bottom respectively. Upon decreasing temperature most of the volume of the sponge phase is replaced by lamellar phase. During the equilibriation we have observed three regimes of behaviour within the sponge phase: (i) disruption in the sponge texture, then (ii) after the sponge phase homogenises there is a lamellar nucleation regime and finally (iii) a bizarre plume connects the lamellar phase with the micellar phase. The relaxation of the two-phase sample proceeds instead in two stages. First lamellar drops nucleate in the sponge phase forming a onion `gel' structure. Over time the lamellar structure compacts while equilibriating into a two phase lamellar/sponge phase sample. We offer possible explanatioins for some of these observations in the context of a general theory for phase kinetics in systems with one fast and one slow variable.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2000

Swelling kinetics of the onion phase

A theory is presented for the behavior of an array of multi-lamellar vesicles (the onion phase) upon addition of solvent. A unique feature of this system is the possibility to sustain pressure gradients by tension in the lamellae. Tension enables the onions to remain stable beyond the unbinding point of a flat lamellar stack. The model accounts for various concentration profiles and interfaces developing in the onion as it swells. In particular, densely packed `onion cores' are shown to appear, as observed in experiments. The formation of interfaces and onion cores may represent an unusual example of stabilization of curved interfaces in confined geometry.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2000

Inertial effects in three dimensional spinodal decomposition of a symmetric binary fluid mixture: A lattice Boltzmann study

The late-stage demixing following spinodal decomposition of a three-dimensional symmetric binary fluid mixture is studied numerically, using a thermodynamicaly consistent lattice Boltzmann method. We combine results from simulations with different numerical parameters to obtain an unprecendented range of length and time scales when expressed in reduced physical units. Using eight large (256^3) runs, the resulting composite graph of reduced domain size l against reduced time t covers 1 < l < 10^5, 10 < t < 10^8. Our data is consistent with the dynamical scaling hypothesis, that l(t) is a universal scaling curve. We give the first detailed statistical analysis of fluid motion, rather than just domain evolution, in simulations of this kind, and introduce scaling plots for several quantities derived from the fluid velocity and velocity gradient fields.

cond-mat↗

arXiv1999

Stresses in silos: Comparison between theoretical models and new experiments

We present precise and reproducible mean pressure measurements at the bottom of a cylindrical granular column. If a constant overload is added, the pressure is linear in overload and nonmonotonic in the column height. The results are {\em quantitatively} consistent with a local, linear relation between stress components, as was recently proposed by some of us. They contradict the simplest classical (Janssen) approximation, and may pose a rather severe test of competing models.

cond-mat↗

arXiv1999

Topological effects in ring polymers (II): Influence of persistence length

The interplay of topological constraints and persistence length of ring polymers in their own melt is investigated by means of dynamical Monte Carlo simulations of a three dimensional lattice model. We ask if the results are consistent with an asymptotically regime where the rings behave like (compact) {\em lattice animals} in a self-consistent network of topological constraints imposed by neighbouring rings. Tuning the persistence length provides an efficient route to increase the ring overlap required for this mean-field picture to hold: The {\em effective} Flory exponent for the ring size decreases down to $ν\stackrel{<}{\sim} 1/3$ with increasing persistence length. Evidence is provided for the emergence of one additional characteristic length scale $\dtop \propto N^0$, only weakly dependent on the persistence length and much larger than the excluded volume screening length $ξ$. At distances larger than \dtop the conformational properties of the rings are governed by the topological interactions, at smaller distances rings and their linear chain counterparts become similar. (At distances smaller than $ξ$ both architectures are identical.) However, the crossover between both limits is intricate and broad as a detailed discussion of the local fractal dimension (e.g., obtained from the static structure factor) reveals.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv1999

Persistence exponents in a 3D symmetric binary fluid mixture

The persistence exponent, theta, is defined by N_F sim t^theta, where t is the time since the start of the coarsening process and the "no-flip fraction", N_F, is the number of points that have not seen a change of "color" since t=0. Here we investigate numerically the persistence exponent for a binary fluid system where the coarsening is dominated by hydrodynamic transport. We find that N_F follows a power law decay (as opposed to exponential) with the value of theta somewhat dependent on the domain growth rate (L sim t^alpha, where L is the average domain size), in the range theta=1.23 +-0.1 (alpha = 2/3) to theta=1.37 +-0.2 (alpha=1). These alpha values correspond to the inertial and viscous hydrodynamic regimes respectively.

cond-mat↗

arXiv1999

Local size segregation in polydisperse hard sphere fluids

The structure of polydisperse hard sphere fluids, in the presence of a wall, is studied by the Rosenfeld density functional theory. Within this approach, the local excess free energy depends on only four combinations of the full set of density fields. The case of continuous polydispersity thereby becomes tractable. We predict, generically, an oscillatory size segregation close to the wall, and connect this, by a perturbation theory for narrow distributions, with the reversible work for changing the size of one particle in a monodisperse reference fluid.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv1999

Inertia, coarsening and fluid motion in binary mixtures

Symmetric binary fluids, quenched into a regime of immiscibility, undergo phase separation by spinodal decomposition. In the late stages, the fluids are separated by sharply defined, but curved, interfaces: the resulting Laplace pressure drives fluid flow. Scaling ideas (of Siggia and of Furukawa) predict that, ultimately, this flow should become turbulent as inertial effects dominate over viscous ones. The physics here is complex: mesoscale simulation methods (such as Lattice Boltzmann and Dissipative Particle Dynamics) can play an essential role in its elucidation, as we describe. Likewise, it is a matter of experience that immiscible fluids will mix, on some lengthscale at least, if stirred vigorously enough. A scaling theory (of Doi and Ohta) predicts the dependence of a steady state domain size on shear rate, but assumes low Reynolds number (inertia is neglected). Our preliminary simulation results (three-dimensional, so far only on small systems) show little sign of the kind of steady state envisaged by Doi and Ohta; they raise instead the possibility of an oriented domain texture which can continue to coarsen until either inertial effects, or (in our simulations) finite size effects, come into play.

cond-mat↗

arXiv1999

3D Spinodal Decomposition in the Inertial Regime

We simulate late-stage coarsening of a 3D symmetric binary fluid using a lattice Boltzmann method. With reduced lengths and times l and t respectively (scales set by viscosity, density and surface tension) our data sets cover 1 < l < 10^5, 10 < t < 10^8. We achieve Reynolds numbers approaching 350. At Re > 100 we find clear evidence of Furukawa's inertial scaling (l ~ t^{2/3}), although the crossover from the viscous regime (l ~ t) is very broad. Though it cannot be ruled out, we find no indication that Re is self-limiting (l ~ t^{1/2}) as proposed by M. Grant and K. R. Elder [Phys. Rev. Lett. 82, 14 (1999)].

cond-mat↗

arXiv1999

Ageing and Rheology in Soft Materials

We study theoretically the role of ageing in the rheology of soft materials. We define several generalized rheological response functions suited to ageing samples (in which time translation invariance is lost). These are then used to study ageing effects within a simple scalar model (the "soft glassy rheology" or SGR model) whose constitutive equations relate shear stress to shear strain among a set of elastic elements, with distributed yield thresholds, undergoing activated dynamics governed by a "noise temperature", $x$. (Between yields, each element follows affinely the applied shear.) For $1<x<2$ there is a power-law fluid regime in which transients occur, but no ageing. For $x<1$, the model has a macroscopic yield stress. So long as this yield stress is not exceeded, ageing occurs, with a sample's apparent relaxation time being of order its own age. The (age-dependent) linear viscoelastic loss modulus $G''(ω,t)$ rises as frequency is {\em lowered}, but falls with age $t$, so as to always remain less than $G'(ω,t)$ (which is nearly constant). Significant ageing is also predicted for the stress overshoot in nonlinear shear startup and for the creep compliance. Though obviously oversimplified, the SGR model may provide a valuable paradigm for the experimental and theoretical study of rheological ageing phenomena in soft solids.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv1999

Jamming and Stress Propagation in Granular Materials

We have recently developed some simple continuum models of static granular media which display "fragile" behaviour: they predict that the medium is unable to support certain types of infinitesimal load (which we call "incompatible" loads) without plastic rearrangement. We argue that a fragile description may be appropriate when the mechanical integrity of the medium arises adaptively, in response to a load, through an internal jamming process. We hypothesize that a network of force chains (or "granular skeleton") evolves until it can just support the applied load, at which point it comes to rest; it then remains intact so long as no incompatible load is applied. Our fragile models exhibits unusual mechanical responses involving hyperbolic equations for stress propagation along fixed characteristics through the material. These characteristics represent force chains; their arrangement expressly depends on the construction history. Thus, for example, we predict a large difference in the stress pattern beneath two conical piles of sand, one poured from a point source and one created by sieving.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv1999

Diffusion and rheology in a model of glassy materials

We study self-diffusion within a simple hopping model for glassy materials. (The model is Bouchaud's model of glasses [J.-P. Bouchaud, J. Physique I 2, 1705 (1992)], as extended to describe rheological properties [P. Sollich, F. Lequeux, P. Hebraud and M.E. Cates, Phys. Rev. Lett. 78, 2020 (1997)].) We investigate the breakdown, near the glass transition, of the (generalized) Stokes-Einstein relation between self-diffusion of a tracer particle and the (frequency-dependent) viscosity of the system as a whole. This stems from the presence of a broad distribution of relaxation times of which different moments control diffusion and rheology. We also investigate the effect of flow (oscillatory shear) on self-diffusion and show that this causes a finite diffusivity in the temperature regime below the glass transition (where this was previously zero). At higher temperatures the diffusivity is enhanced by a power law frequency dependence that also characterises the rheological response. The relevance of these findings to soft glassy materials (foams, emulsions etc.) as well as to conventional glass-forming liquids is discussed.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv1998

Tests of Dynamical Scaling in 3-D Spinodal Decomposition

We simulate late-stage coarsening of a 3-D symmetric binary fluid. With reduced units l,t (with scales set by viscosity, density and surface tension) our data extends two decades in t beyond earlier work. Across at least four decades, our own and others' individual datasets (< 1 decade each) show viscous hydrodynamic scaling (l ~ a + b t), but b is not constant between runs as this scaling demands. This betrays either the unexpected intrusion of a discretization (or molecular) lengthscale, or an exceptionally slow crossover between viscous and inertial regimes.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv1998

Jamming and Stress Propagation in Particulate Matter

We present simple models of particulate materials whose mechanical integrity arises from a jamming process. We argue that such media are generically "fragile", that is, they are unable to support certain types of incremental loading without plastic rearrangement. In such models, fragility is naturally linked to the marginal stability of force chain networks (granular skeletons) within the material. Fragile matter exhibits novel mechanical responses that may be relevant to both jammed colloids and cohesionless assemblies of poured, rigid grains.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv1998

Stress Propagation in Sand

We describe a new continuum approach to the modelling of stress propagation in static granular media, focussing on the conical sandpile created from a point source. We argue that the stress continuity equations should be closed by means of scale-free, local constitutive relations between different components of the stress tensor, encoding the construction history of the pile: this history determines the organization of the grains, and thereby the local relationship between stresses. Our preferred model FPA (Fixed Principle Axes) assumes that the eigendirections (but not the eigenvalues) of the stress tensor are determined forever when a material element is first buried. Stresses propagate along a nested set of archlike structures within the medium; the results are in good quantitative agreement with published experimental data. The FPA model is one of a larger class, called OSL (Oriented Stress Linearity) models, in which the direction of the characteristics for stress propagation are fixed at burial. We speculate on the connection between these characteristics and the stress paths observed microscopically.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv1998

Dynamical Monte Carlo Study of Equilibrium Polymers : Static Properties

We report results of extensive Dynamical Monte Carlo investigations on self-assembled Equilibrium Polymers (EP) without loops in good solvent. (This is thought to provide a good model of giant surfactant micelles.) Using a novel algorithm we are able to describe efficiently both static and dynamic properties of systems in which the mean chain length $\Lav$ is effectively comparable to that of laboratory experiments (up to 5000 monomers, even at high polymer densities). We sample up to scission energies of $E/k_BT=15$ over nearly three orders of magnitude in monomer density $ϕ$, and present a detailed crossover study ranging from swollen EP chains in the dilute regime up to dense molten systems. Confirming recent theoretical predictions, the mean-chain length is found to scale as $\Lav \propto ϕ^α\exp(δE)$ where the exponents approach $α_d=δ_d=1/(1+γ) \approx 0.46$ and $α_s = 1/2 [1+(γ-1)/(νd -1)] \approx 0.6, δ_s=1/2$ in the dilute and semidilute limits respectively. The chain length distribution is qualitatively well described in the dilute limit by the Schulz-Zimm distribution $\cN(s)\approx s^{γ-1} \exp(-s)$ where the scaling variable is $s=γL/\Lav$. The very large size of these simulations allows also an accurate determination of the self-avoiding walk susceptibility exponent $γ\approx 1.165 \pm 0.01$. ....... Finite-size effects are discussed in detail.

cond-mat.soft↗