Aging and Memory Effects in Disordered and Frustrated Mechanical Systems

by Dr. Yoav Lahini

Tel Aviv University

at Condensed Matter Seminar

Mon, 18 Mar 2019, 11:30
Sacta-Rashi Building for Physics (54), room 207

Abstract

I will discuss the observation of some of the hallmarks of glassy dynamics - slow relaxation, aging and memory effects - in a-thermal, macroscopically-disordered mechanical systems: ultra-thin crumpled sheets, elastic foams and granular systems. I’ll focus on the observation of an extremely long-lasting non-monotonic memory response, reminiscent of the Kovacs effect observed decades ago in glassy polymer melts and metallic glasses. I will describe ongoing experiments that aim to exploit the macroscopic nature of the our systems to try and uncover the mechanisms underlying the slow relaxation and memory retention exhibited by them. The experimental results, down to surprisingly subtle details, are in very good agreement with a phenomenological framework which has recently been used to explain monotonic aging effects in several glassy systems. This suggests not only a general mechanism for slow relaxation and memory retention, but also that the non-monotonic behavior we observe may be generic.

Created on 03-03-2019 by Meidan, Dganit (dganit)
Updaded on 17-03-2019 by Meidan, Dganit (dganit)