Open AccessPeierls-Nabarro potential for a confined chain of hard spheres under compression
Author(s) -
A. Mughal,
D. Weaire,
Stefan Hutzler
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
europhysics letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1286-4854
pISSN - 0295-5075
DOI - 10.1209/0295-5075/ac1a24
Subject(s) - spheres , compression (physics) , bifurcation , statistical physics , chain (unit) , hard spheres , physics , classical mechanics , phase diagram , theoretical physics , relation (database) , computer science , thermodynamics , quantum mechanics , nonlinear system , astronomy , phase (matter) , database
Examples of bifurcation diagrams are presented for a chain of hard spheres under compression, which are confined by a transverse potential. The diagrams are modified in the presence of an axial force and show interesting topological rearrangements due to the reconnection of loci of different equilibrium solutions. The corresponding Peierls-Nabarro potential is defined and calculated for various values of compression. This relatively tractable and transparent system can illustrate in detail the general features of such a potential and its relation to experiment.