Stochastic Dynamics of Crystal Defects

by Thomas D Swinburne

Overview

This thesis is concerned with establishing a rigorous, modern theory of the shastic and dissipative forces on crystal defects, which remain poorly understood despite their importance in any temperature dependent micro-structural process such as the ductile to brittle transition or irradiation damage.

The author first uses novel molecular dynamics simulations to parameterise an efficient, shastic and discrete dislocation model that allows access to experimental time and length scales. Simulated trajectories are in excellent agreement with experiment. The author also applies modern methods of multiscale analysis to extract novel bounds on the transport properties of these many body systems.

Despite their successes in coarse graining, existing theories are found unable to explain shastic defect dynamics. To resolve this, the author defines crystal defects through projection operators, without any recourse to elasticity. By rigorous dimensional reduction, explicit analytical forms are derived for the shastic forces acting on crystal defects, allowing new quantitative insight into the role of thermal fluctuations in crystal plasticity.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783319373850
Publisher:	Springer International Publishing
Publication date:	08/13/2016
Series:	Springer Theses
Edition description:	Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 2015
Pages:	100
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.01(d)

About the Author

First Degree in Physics at Mansfield College, Oxford University.
Masters and PhD in Theory and Simulation of Materials at Imperial College, London under Prof Adrian Sutton FRS and Prof Sergei Dudarev. Currently fusion research fellow at the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy.

Table of Contents

Introduction.- Dislocations.- Shastic Motion.- Atomistic simulations in bcc Metals.- Properties of Coarse Grained Dislocations.- The Shastic Force on Crystal Defects.- Conclusions and Outlook.