We examine various models of soft matter, and one model of
quasicrystals, focusing on abrupt changes as density is varied. We consider in
detail two models, one of granular matter and another of confined wires, showing
that the models become ordered as density is increased, with crystalline order
observed in the former and nematic order observed in the latter. We associate the
phenomenon of random close packing with the onset of crystalline order in our
granular model, and we conjecture that crumpled wires should exhibit a nematic
transition with increasing compaction. We also consider two other models of
granular matter: one which describes dilatancy onset as a second order phase
transition, and one which describes random loose packing as a precise, well-
defined density. Finally, we examine an equilibrium model of quasicrystals with
a first order phase transition to a solid phase without any crystalline order. / text
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UTEXAS/oai:repositories.lib.utexas.edu:2152/ETD-UT-2011-05-2800 |
| Date | 16 June 2011 |
| Creators | Aristoff, David Gregory |
| Source Sets | University of Texas |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | thesis |
| Format | application/pdf |
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