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Konstantin V. Tretiakov

Research

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One of my recent research interests is dynamic self-assembly (DySA) outside of thermody-namic equilibrium, which underlies many forms of adaptive and intelligent behaviors in both natural and artificial systems. Despite increasing scientific interest in such systems, the fundamental principles governing DySA systems remain largely undeveloped. In this context, it is desirable to relate the forces mediating self-assembly to the nonequilibrium thermodynamics of the system - specifically, to the rate of energy dissipation. Presently, I am working on numerical simulations of a prototypical DySA system, in which rotating magnetic particles organize via repulsive hydrodynamic forces combined with a global confining potential. The simulations are used to calculate viscous dissipation rates as well as the hydrodynamic forces acting between the system's components. From these results, the main goal of the present study is to relate the dissipative forces mediating self-assembly to the energy dissipation rate. Such a relationship would complement and extend the applicability of Prigogine's minimal-entropy-production formalism, which is currently inadequate in describing the present model system. This work may be of interest to other researchers working on self-organization phenomena in nonequilibrium systems.
In addition, I am still interested in the study of the elastic properties of solids - in particular, materials exhibiting negative Poisson's ratio and the thermal conductivity of crystals - using Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics simulations. Systems exhibiting anomalous (negative) Poisson's ratio behave in contrast to typical materials like rubber, glass, metals, etc. They expand transversely when pulled longitudinally and contract transversely when pushed longitudinally. First manufactured in 1987 by Lakes and named auxetics by Evans, these materials in last years are the object of intensive study. This comes both from increasing number of possible applications of materials showing this unusual property and from interest in understanding fundamental mechanisms leading to it. I am working on theoretical models and computer simulation of systems with negative Poisson's ratios.