Encoding Robust and Fast Memories in Bulk and Nanoscale Amorphous Solids

Abstract

We investigate the memory effects under oscillatory shear deformation of amorphous solids through computer simulations. Applications of shear deformations in all orthogonal directions show that encoded memories via this protocol are more robust while performing reading. Our extensive system size analysis of memory effects shows that memory encoding in small systems is faster than in larger systems and is probably impossible in thermodynamically large system sizes. In addition to demonstrating how to encode robust memories in 3D bulk amorphous materials, we devise protocols for encoding and reading memories in pseudo-1D materials in the form of amorphous nano-rods. With this, we show that memory encoding and retrieving can also be done in systems with open surfaces, which all materials would necessarily have in practice, and is thus essential to capitalise on the effectiveness of smaller system sizes to encode memories faster. All in all, we provide protocols for encoding robust and faster memories in amorphous solids both at bulk and nanoscale.