Frictionless motion of lattice defects

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that by using boundary acoustic sources, the effective friction on lattice defects like dislocations, cracks, and domain walls can be eliminated, enabling frictionless defect motion.

Contribution

It introduces a method to achieve zero effective friction for lattice defects through boundary acoustic control, applicable to various defect types.

Findings

Friction can be nullified with boundary acoustic sources.

Control protocols enable dissipation-free defect mobility.

Applicable to design of mechanical meta-materials.

Abstract

Energy dissipation by fast crystalline defects takes place mainly through the resonant interaction of their cores with periodic lattice. We show that the resultant effective friction can be reduced to zero by appropriately tuned acoustic sources located on the boundary of the body. To illustrate the general idea, we consider three prototypical models describing the main types of strongly discrete defects: dislocations, cracks and domain walls. The obtained control protocols, ensuring dissipation-free mobility of topological defects, can be also used in the design of meta-material systems aimed at transmitting mechanical information.