Elastic string in a random potential

M. Dong, M. C. Marchetti, A. Alan Middleton, V. Vinokur

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

76 Scopus citations

Abstract

We have studied numerically the dynamics of a directed elastic string in a two-dimensional array of quenched random impurities. The string is driven by a constant transverse force and thermal fluctuations are neglected. There is a transition from pinned to unpinned behavior at a critical value FT of the driving force. At the transition the average string velocity scales with the driving force. The scaling is equally well described by a power law vd∼(F-FT)ζ, with ζ=0.24±0.1, or by a logarithm, vd∼1/ln(F-FT). The divergence of the velocity-velocity correlation length at threshold is characterized by an exponent ν=1.05±0.1.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)662-665
Number of pages4
JournalPhysical Review Letters
Volume70
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 1993

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Physics and Astronomy

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