Self-organization and memory in an disordered solid subject to random loading

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that amorphous solids subjected to random shear strain can self-organize and form retrievable memories of the strain range, extending previous oscillatory driving results to more general disordered systems.

Contribution

It introduces a mesoscopic model showing memory formation in amorphous solids under random loading, broadening understanding of self-organization in disordered materials.

Findings

Memory of strain range can be retrieved from the system's response.

Self-organization correlates system dynamics with environmental fluctuations.

Results suggest potential for environmental sensing and adaptation in disordered systems.

Abstract

We consider self-organization and memory formation in a mesoscopic model of an amorphous solid subject to a random shear strain protocol confined to a strain range $\pm \varepsilon_{\rm max}$. We develop proper read-out protocols to show that the response of the driven system retains a memory of the strain range, which can be subsequently retrieved. Our findings generalize previous results obtained upon oscillatory driving and suggest that self-organization and memory formation of disordered materials can emerge under more general conditions, such as a disordered system interacting with its fluctuating environment. The self-organization results in a correlation between the dynamics of the system and its environment. We conclude by discussing our results within the context of environmental sensing, highlighting their generalizability to adaptation strategies of simple organisms under changing conditions.