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Heterogeneous attenuation of sound waves in three-dimensional amorphous solids
Shivam Mahajan1, Massimo Pica Ciamarra1,2,3
1Division of Physics and Applied Physics, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637371.
Physical Review. E
|March 16, 2024
Summary
Sound attenuation in amorphous materials is heterogeneous, originating in soft regions linked to low-frequency vibrations. These regions then spread diffusively through the material over time.
Area of Science:
- Physics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Sound waves experience attenuation when propagating through amorphous materials.
- Understanding this attenuation is crucial for material characterization and application.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanism of sound attenuation in amorphous materials within the Rayleigh scattering regime.
- To resolve the spatiotemporal dynamics of phonon behavior during sound attenuation.
Main Methods:
- Numerical simulations were employed to model the propagation of sound waves.
- The dynamics of excited phonons were resolved in both time and space.
Main Results:
- Sound attenuation was found to be spatiotemporally heterogeneous, not uniform.
- Attenuation initiates in localized "soft" regions correlated with low-frequency vibrational modes.
- These attenuation regions expand into the material via a diffusive process over time.
Conclusions:
- The mechanism of sound attenuation in amorphous materials is spatially dependent.
- Soft regions and low-frequency modes play a key role in initiating sound attenuation.
- The diffusive spread of attenuation highlights complex dynamics within these materials.
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