Anharmonic and quasi-localized vibrations in jammed solids—Modes for mechanical failure

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Published 21 June 2010 Europhysics Letters Association
, , Citation N. Xu et al 2010 EPL 90 56001 DOI 10.1209/0295-5075/90/56001

0295-5075/90/5/56001

Abstract

We study harmonic and anharmonic properties of the vibrational modes in 3-dimensional jammed packings of frictionless spheres interacting via repulsive, finite-range potentials. A crossover frequency is apparent in the density of states, the diffusivity and the participation ratio of the normal modes of vibration. At this frequency, which shifts to zero at the jamming threshold, the vibrational modes have a very small participation ratio implying that the modes are quasi-localized. The lowest-frequency modes are the most anharmonic, with the strongest response to pressure and the lowest-energy barriers to mechanical failure.

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10.1209/0295-5075/90/56001