We force a single particle through a two-dimensional simulated glass. We find that the particle velocity obeys a robust power law that persists to drives well above threshold. As the single driven particle moves, it induces cooperative distortions in the surrounding medium. We show theoretically that a fracture model for these distortions produces power law behavior, and discuss implications for experimental probes of soft matter systems.
Cite
@article{arxiv.cond-mat/0209542,
title = {Depinning by Fracture in a Glassy Background},
author = {M. B. Hastings and C. J. Olson Reichhardt and C. Reichhardt},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/0209542},
year = {2009}
}