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Mehran Kardar

Publications and source records attributed to Mehran Kardar.

162 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

Anisotropic Scaling in Threshold Critical Dynamics of Driven Directed Lines

The dynamical critical behavior of a single directed line driven in a random medium near the depinning threshold is studied both analytically (by renormalization group) and numerically, in the context of a Flux Line in a Type-II superconductor with a bulk current $\vec J$. In the absence of transverse fluctuations, the system reduces to recently studied models of interface depinning. In most cases, the presence of transverse fluctuations are found not to influence the critical exponents that describe longitudinal correlations. For a manifold with $d=4-ε$ internal dimensions, longitudinal fluctuations in an isotropic medium are described by a roughness exponent $ζ_\parallel=ε/3$ to all orders in $ε$, and a dynamical exponent $z_\parallel=2-2ε/9+O(ε^2)$. Transverse fluctuations have a distinct and smaller roughness exponent $ζ_\perp=ζ_\parallel-d/2$ for an isotropic medium. Furthermore, their relaxation is much slower, characterized by a dynamical exponent $z_\perp=z_\parallel+1/ν$, where $ν=1/(2-ζ_\parallel)$ is the correlation length exponent. The predicted exponents agree well with numerical results for a flux line in three dimensions. As in the case of interface depinning models, anisotropy leads to additional universality classes. A nonzero Hall angle, which has no analogue in the interface models, also affects the critical behavior.

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Randomly Charged Polymers: Excess Charge Dependence of Spatial Configurations

Spatial configurations of randomly charged polymers, known as polyampholytes (PAs), are very sensitive to the overall excess charge Q. Analytical arguments, supported by Monte Carlo simulations and exact enumeration studies, lead to the following picture: For Q < Q_c = q_0 N^2 (q_0 is the elementary charge, N is the number of monomers in the polymer), the radius of gyration R_g of the polymer decreases with decreasing temperature T and the polymer becomes compact, while for Q>Q_c the polymer stretches with decreasing T. At low T, the dense states are described by Debye-Huckel theory, while the expanded states resemble a necklace of globules connected by strings. At such temperatures, the transition between the dense and the expanded states with increasing Q, is reminiscent of the breakup of a charged drop.

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Scaling of Energy Barriers for Flux Lines and Other Random Systems

Using a combination of analytic arguments and numerical simulations, we determine lower and upper bounds for the energy barriers to the motion of a defect line in a random potential at low temperatures. We study the cases of magnetic flux lines in high-$T_{c}$ superconductors in 2 and 3 dimensions, and of domain walls in 2 dimensional random-field Ising models. The results show that, under fairly general conditions, energy barriers have the same scaling as the fluctuations in free energy, except for possible logarithmic factors. This holds not only for barriers between optimal configurations of the line, but also for barriers separating any metastable configuration from a configuration of minimal energy. Similar arguments may be applicable to other elastic media with impurities, such as bunches of flux lines.

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Energy Barriers to Motion of Flux Lines in Random Media

We propose algorithms for determining both lower and upper bounds for the energy barriers encountered by a flux line in moving through a two-dimensional random potential. Analytical arguments, supported by numerical simulations, suggest that these bounds scale with the length $t$ of the line as $t^{1/3}$ and $t^{1/3}\sqrt{\ln t}$, respectively. This provides the first confirmation of the hypothesis that barriers have the same scaling as the fluctuation in the free energy. \pacs{PACS numbers: 74.60.Ge, 05.70.Ln, 05.40.+j}

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Magneto-Conductance Anisotropy and Interference Effects in Variable Range Hopping

We investigate the magneto-conductance (MC) anisotropy in the variable range hopping regime, caused by quantum interference effects in three dimensions. When no spin-orbit scattering is included, there is an increase in the localization length (as in two dimensions), producing a large positive MC. By contrast, with spin-orbit scattering present, there is no change in the localization length, and only a small increase in the overall tunneling amplitude. The numerical data for small magnetic fields $B$, and hopping lengths $t$, can be collapsed by using scaling variables $B_\perp t^{3/2}$, and $B_\parallel t$ in the perpendicular and parallel field orientations respectively. This is in agreement with the flux through a `cigar'--shaped region with a diffusive transverse dimension proportional to $\sqrt{t}$. If a single hop dominates the conductivity of the sample, this leads to a characteristic orientational `finger print' for the MC anisotropy. However, we estimate that many hops contribute to conductivity of typical samples, and thus averaging over critical hop orientations renders the bulk sample isotropic, as seen experimentally. Anisotropy appears for thin films, when the length of the hop is comparable to the thickness. The hops are then restricted to align with the sample plane, leading to different MC behaviors parallel and perpendicular to it, even after averaging over many hops. We predict the variations of such anisotropy with both the hop size and the magnetic field strength. An orientational bias produced by strong electric fields will also lead to MC anisotropy.

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Dynamic Scaling Phenomena in Growth Processes

Inhomogeneities in deposition may lead to formation of rough surfaces, whose height fluctuations can be probed directly by scanning microscopy, or indirectly by scattering. Analytical or numerical treatments of simple growth models suggest that, quite generally, the height fluctuations have a self-similar character. The roughness and dynamic exponents are expected to be universal; depending only on the underlying mechanism that generates self-similar roughness. Despite its ubiquitous occurrence in theory and simulations, experimental confirmations of dynamic scaling have been rare. I shall briefly review the theoretical foundations of dynamic scaling, and suggest possible reasons for discrepancies with experimental results.

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Randomly Charged Polymers: An Exact Enumeration Study

We perform an exact enumeration study of polymers formed from a (quenched) random sequence of charged monomers $\pm q_0$. Such polymers, known as polyampholytes, are compact when completely neutral and expanded when highly charged. Our exhaustive search included all spatial conformations and quenched sequences for up to 12--step (13--site) walks. We investigate the behavior of the polymer as a function of its overall excess charge $Q$, and temperature $T$. At low temperatures there is a phase transition from compact to extended configurations when the charge exceeds $Q_c\approx q_0 \sqrt{N}$. There are also indications of a transition for small $Q$ between two compact states on varying temperature. Numerical estimates are provided for the condensation energy, surface tension, and the critical exponent $ν$.

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Adsorption of polymers on a fluctuating surface

We study the adsorption of polymer chains on a fluctuating surface. Physical examples are provided by polymer adsorption at the rough interface between two non-miscible liquids, or on a membrane. In a mean-field approach, we find that the self--avoiding chains undergo an adsorption transition, accompanied by a stiffening of the fluctuating surface. In particular, adsorption of polymers on a membrane induces a surface tension and leads to a strong suppression of roughness.

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The Unusual Universality of Branching Interfaces in Random Media

We study the criticality of a Potts interface by introducing a {\it froth} model which, unlike its SOS Ising counterpart, incorporates bubbles of different phases. The interface is fractal at the phase transition of a pure system. However, a position space approximation suggests that the probability of loop formation vanishes marginally at a transition dominated by {\it strong random bond disorder}. This implies a linear critical interface, and provides a mechanism for the conjectured equivalence of critical random Potts and Ising models.

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Directed Paths in Random Media

Contents: A. Introduction B. High Temperature Expansions for the Ising Model C. Characteristic Functions and Cumulants D. The One Dimensional Chain E. Directed Paths and the Transfer Matrix F. Moments of the Correlation Function G. The Probability Distribution in Two Dimensions H. Higher Dimensions I. Random Signs J. Other Realizations of DPRM K. Quantum Interference of Strongly Localized Electrons L. The Locator Expansion and Forward Scattering Paths M. Magnetic Field Response N. Unitary Propagation O. Unitary Averages P. Summing all Paths in High Dimensions Q. The Ising Model on a Square Lattice R. Singular Behavior S. The Two Dimensional Spin Glass T. Results for the Two Dimensional Spin Glass

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Instabilities of Charged Polyampholytes

We consider polymers formed from a (quenched) random sequence of charged monomers of opposite signs. Such polymers, known as polyampholytes (PAs), are compact when completely neutral and expanded when highly charged. We examine the transition between the two regimes by Monte Carlo simulations, and by analogies to charged drops. We find that the overall excess charge, $Q$, is the main determinant of the size of the PA. A polymer composed of $N$ charges of $\pm q_0$ is compact for $Q<Q_c\approx q_0 \sqrt{N}$, and expanded otherwise. The transition is reminiscent of the Rayleigh shape instability of a charged drop. A uniform excess charge causes the breakup of a fluid drop, and stretches out a polymer to a {\it necklace} shape. The inhomogeneities in charge distort the shape away from an ordered necklace.

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Nonequilibrium Dynamics of Fluctuating Lines

These notes are for the proceedings of the NATO Advanced Study Insitutue on "Scale Invariance, Interfaces, and Non--Equilibrium Dynamics", held at the Isaac Newton Institute, 20--30 June 1994. The four lectures address a number of issues related to dynamic fluctuations of lines in non-equilibrium circumstances. The first two are devoted to the critical behavior of contact lines and flux lines depinning from impurities. It is emphasized that anisotropies in the medium lead to different universality classes. The importance of nonlinearities for moving lines are discussed in the context of flux lines and polymers in the last two lectures. A dynamic form birefringence is predicted for drifting polymers.

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Collapse of Randomly Self-Interacting Polymers

We use complete enumeration and Monte Carlo techniques to study self--avoiding walks with random nearest--neighbor interactions described by $v_0q_iq_j$, where $q_i=\pm1$ is a quenched sequence of ``charges'' on the chain. For equal numbers of positive and negative charges ($N_+=N_-$), the polymer with $v_0>0$ undergoes a transition from self--avoiding behavior to a compact state at a temperature $θ\approx1.2v_0$. The collapse temperature $θ(x)$ decreases with the asymmetry $x=|N_+-N_-|/(N_++N_-)$

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Anisotropic Scaling in Depinning of a Flux Line

We study the depinning of a flux line by analytical and numerical methods applied to a phenomenological equation of motion. Transverse fluctuations do not influence the critical behavior of the longitudinal component, justifying ``planar approximations". In an isotropic medium, longitudinal fluctuations have a roughness exponent $ζ_\parallel=1$, and relax with a dynamic exponent $z_\parallel\approx4/3$; transverse fluctuations are suppressed ($ζ_\perp=1/2<ζ_\parallel$), and relax more slowly, with $z_\perp=z_\parallel+1$. Anisotropy in the depinning threshold, or orientational dependence of force-force correlations, lead to new universality classes.

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Excess Charge in Polyampholytes

Polyampholytes (PAs) are polymers composed of (quenched) random sequences of positive and negatively charged monomeric groups. We show that the radius of gyration, $R_g$, of a PA strongly depends on its overall excess charge $Q$, and is very weakly influenced by other aspects of the sequence. For $Q Q_c$ it is stretched. Some aspects of this behavior can be understood by analogy with the shape instability of a charged drop where the Rayleigh charge plays the role of $Q_c$.

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Critical Dynamics of Contact Line Depinning

The depinning of a contact line is studied as a dynamical critical phenomenon by a functional renormalization group technique. In $D=2-ε$ interface dimensions, the roughness exponent is $ζ=ε/3$ to all orders in perturbation theory. Thus, $ζ=1/3$ for the contact line, equal to the Imry-Ma estimate of Huse for the equilibrium roughness. The dynamical exponent is $z=1-2ε/9+O(ε^2)<1$, resulting in unusual dynamical properties. In particular, a characteristic distortion length of the contact line depinning from a strong defect is predicted to initially increase faster than linearly in time. Some experiments are suggested to probe such dynamics.

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Delocalization of Flux Lines from Extended Defects by Bulk Randomness

We study the delocalization by bulk randomness of a single flux line (FL) from an extended defect, such as a columnar pin or twin plane. In three dimensions, the FL is always bound to a planar defect, while there is an unpinning transition from a columnar pin. Transfer matrix simulations confirm this picture, and indicate that the divergence of the localization length from the columnar defect is governed by a liberation exponent $ν_\perp =1.3 \pm 0.6$, for which a ``mean-field'' estimate gives $ν_\perp \approx 0.78$. The results, and their extensions, are compared to other theories. The effects may be observable in thin samples close to $H_{c1}$.

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Roughening of Reconstructed Crystal Surfaces and the Hubbard Model

We consider a model of a reconstructed crystal surface, first considered by Villain and Vilfan (Europhys. Lett. 12, p. 523 (1990) and Surf. Sci. 257, p. 368 (1991)) for the gold (110) surface, in which roughening occurs via the formation of anisotropic steps traversing the entire length of the crystal. The model is studied by a mapping to a spin--1/2 Fermion system in 1+1 dimensions, which, in the absence of islands, is precisely the Hubbard model. We consider a general $\pbyo$ reconstruction, in the presence of inter--step interactions and closed islands. Our analysis predicts the existence of a new type of rough phase, with incommensurate correlations in the reconstruction order parameter and unusual momentum space singularities at a characteristic ``Fermi momentum'' and its harmonics, analagous to the Luttinger liquid of one--dimensional Fermions. The general phase structure for $p>1$ is as follows: for $p>2$, there is a flat ordered (FO), a rough incommensurate (RI), and a flat incommensurate phase (FI). The FO--RI and FO--FI transitions are of the commensurate to incommensurate type, and the FI--RI transition is in the Kosterlitz--Thouless (KT) universality class. For $p=2$, the FI phase is replaced by a flat disordered phase (FD), and there may be a new rough disordered phase (RD). The FO--FD transition is now of Ising type, and the FD--RD and RI--RD transitions are in the KT universality class.

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