arXiv subjects

Yevgen Melikhov

Publications and source records attributed to Yevgen Melikhov.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Experimental and numerical study of the dynamics of sedimenting pairs of semi-flexible fibers close to attractive `aligned' relative configuration

Dynamics of two short semi-flexible fibers settling under gravity in a viscous fluid are investigated at Reynolds numbers Re << 1. We focus on fibers initially relatively close to each other, and we check if later they approach an aligned horizontal configuration, previously identified numerically (Bukowicki and Ekiel-Jezewska, Soft Matter 46 (2019) 9379) as attractive for symmetric initial conditions of moderately elastic filaments. In our experiments, two semi-flexible ball chains sediment in a highly viscous silicone oil. They are initially straight and close to a parallel horizontal relative configuration. Their motion and shape deformation are recorded using two synchronized cameras. For most of the trials, ball chains stay together, with damped oscillations around the symmetric aligned configuration. For a few initial conditions, the ball chains move away horizontally or vertically. To study the behavior over a longer time, we perform numerical simulations, modeling moderately elastic filaments as chains of identical beads, with the centers of consecutive beads connected by springs and with the fibers' elastic resistance to bending. Different initial positions and orientations are considered. Their dynamics are determined by the multipole expansion of the Stokes equations, implemented in the precise Hydromultipole numerical code. For short times, we observe the similar dynamics of semi-flexible ball chains and moderately elastic filaments. We provide examples of long-time numerical simulations illustrating that elastic filaments close to each other can move away horizontally or vertically, but after a long time, come back and perform damped oscillations while approaching the aligned configuration with almost touching filament ends. We confirm the attractive nature of the aligned configuration of very close semi-flexible sedimenting fibers, even if they are far away from each other.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2026

Vacancy-Enhanced $N-N$ Bonding and Deep Level Complex Defect Formation in $β-Ga_2O_3$

The formation and electronic properties of nitrogen-related defect complexes in $β-Ga_2O_3$ are investigated using first-principles calculations. Starting from the energetically favorable $N_{i9}-N_{OI}$ configuration, nitrogen atoms exhibit a strong tendency toward co-localization, leading to reduced $N-N$ separation. However, analysis of bond lengths and electron localization function shows that these configurations do not fully attain molecular $N_{2}$ character. The role of intrinsic defects is further examined by introducing oxygen and gallium vacancies. Vacancy-assisted configurations enhance local lattice relaxation and further decrease the $N-N$ distance. Formation energy calculations indicate that several vacancy-assisted complexes are thermodynamically favorable, while binding energy analysis confirms their stability against dissociation. Despite this, the density of states analysis reveals that all configurations introduce localized electronic states within the band gap. These states originate primarily from hybridized $N$-$2p$ and $O$-$2p$ orbitals and remain energetically separated from the band edges. Spin density analysis further confirms strong localization. Overall, these defect complexes act as deep trapping centers, limiting carrier transport in $β-Ga_2O_3$ and thereby promoting semi-insulating behavior and current blocking characteristics.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2025

Sedimenting rigid particles of certain shapes approach a stationary orientation

This work investigates experimentally and numerically the dynamics of rigid particles settling under gravity in a highly viscous fluid. We demonstrate that certain shapes: cones, crescent moons, arrowheads, and open flat rings reorient and approach a stationary configuration. We determine the mobility coefficients and the characteristic reorientation times. We find out that the two rotational-translational mobility coefficients have opposite signs. Therefore, based on the equations of motion for rigid bodies with two orthogonal planes of symmetry, theoretically derived by Joshi and Govindarajan, Phys. Rev. Lett., 134, 2025, 014002 and Ekiel-Jezewska and Wajnryb, J. Phys. Condens. Matter, 21, 2009, 204102, we conclude that the approached stationary configurations are stable. Owing to the similarity principle, our experimental findings apply to micro-objects in water-based solutions. The reorientation of sedimenting rigid particles of certain shapes to a stationary stable configuration in a relatively short time might be used for biological, medical, or industrial applications.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2024

Dynamical modes of highly elastic loops settling under gravity in a viscous fluid

The settling of highly elastic non-Brownian closed fibres (called loops) under gravity in a viscous fluid is investigated numerically. The loops are represented using a bead-spring model with harmonic bending potential and finitely extensible nonlinear elastic (FENE) stretching potential. Numerical solutions to the Stokes equations are obtained with the use of HYDROMULTIPOLE numerical codes, which are based on the multipole method corrected for lubrication to calculate hydrodynamic interactions between spherical particles with high precision. Depending on the elasto-gravitation number B, a ratio of gravitation to bending forces, the loop approaches different attracting dynamical modes, as described by Gruziel-Slomka et al. (Soft Matter, vol. 15, 2019, pp. 7262-7274) with the use of the Rotne-Prager mobility of the elastic loop made of beads. Here, using a more precise method, we find and characterise a new mode, analyse typical timescales, velocities, and orientations of all the modes, compare them, and investigate their coexistence. We analyse the transitions (bifurcations) to a different mode at certain critical values of the elasto-gravitation number B.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2023

Dynamics of Ball-Chains and Very Elastic Fibres Settling under Gravity in a Viscous Fluid

We study experimentally the dynamics of one and two ball-chains settling under gravity in a very viscous fluid at a Reynolds number much smaller than unity. We demonstrate that single ball-chains in most cases do not tend to be planar and often rotate, not keeping the ends at the same horizontal level. Shorter ball-chains usually form shapes resembling distorted U, and longer ones in the early stage of the evolution form a shape resembling distorted W, and later deform non-symmetrically and significantly out of plane. This behaviour is reproduced in our numerical simulations for a single very elastic filament, with the use of the bead model and multipole expansion of the Stokes equations, corrected for lubrication and implemented in the precise Hydromultipole numerical codes. In our experiments, two ball-chains, initially one above the other, later move away or approach each other, for a larger or smaller initial distance, respectively.

physics.flu-dyn↗