Isotropy

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Not to be confused with isotope.
"Isotropic" redirects here. For the eye condition described as esotropic, see Esotropia.
Isotropy is uniformity in all orientations; it is derived from the reek isos !"#$%, e&ual' and
tropos !()*+$%, way'. ,recise definitions depend on the sub-ect area. E.ceptions, or ine&ualities,
are fre&uently indicated by the prefi. an, hence anisotropy. Anisotropy is also used to describe
situations where properties vary systematically, dependent on direction. Isotropic radiation has
the same intensity re/ardless of the direction of measurement, and an isotropic field e.erts the
same action re/ardless of how the test particle is oriented.
Contents
0 1athematics
2 ,hysics
o 2.0 1aterials science
o 2.2 1icrofabrication
o 2.3 4ntenna !radio'
3 5iolo/y
6 7ther sciences
8 9ee also
: ;eferences
Mathematics
Within mathematics, isotropy has a few different meanin/s<
Isotropic manifolds
4 manifold is isotropic if the /eometry on the manifold is the same re/ardless of
direction. 4 similar concept is homo/eneity. 4 manifold can be homo/eneous without
bein/ isotropic, but if it is inhomo/eneous, it is necessarily anisotropic.
Isotropic &uadratic form
4 &uadratic form q is said to be isotropic if there is a non=>ero vector v such that q!v' ? @.
Isotropic coordinates on an isotropic chart for Aorent>ian manifolds.
Isotropy /roup
4n isotropy /roup is the /roup of isomorphisms from any ob-ect to itself in a /roupoid.
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Physics
Duantum mechanics or ,article physics
When a spinless particle !or even an unpolari>ed particle with spin' decays, the resultin/
decay distribution must be isotropic in the rest frame of the decayin/ particle re/ardless
of the detailed physics of the decay. Ehis follows from rotational invariance of the
Familtonian, which in turn is /uaranteed for a spherically symmetric potential.
Ginetic theory is also an e.ample of isotropy. It is assumed that the molecules move in
random directions and as a conse&uence, there is an e&ual probability of a molecule
movin/ in any direction. Ehus when there are many molecules in the /as, with hi/h
probability there will be very similar numbers movin/ in one direction as any other hence
demonstratin/ appro.imate isotropy.
Fluid dynamics
Fluid flow is isotropic if there is no directional preference !e./. in fully developed 3H
turbulence'. 4n e.ample of anisotropy is in flows with a back/round density as /ravity
works in only one direction. Ehe apparent surface separatin/ two differin/ isotropic fluids
would be referred to as an isotrope.
Ehermal e.pansion
4 solid is said to be isotropic if the e.pansion of solid is e&ual in all directions when
thermal ener/y is provided to the solid.
Electroma/netics
4n isotropic medium is one such that the permittivity, I, and permeability, J, of the
medium are uniform in all directions of the medium, the simplest instance bein/ free
space.
7ptics
7ptical isotropy means havin/ the same optical properties in all directions. Ehe
individual reflectance or transmittance of the domains is avera/ed if the macroscopic
reflectance or transmittance is to be calculated. Ehis can be verified simply by
investi/atin/, e./., a polycrystalline material under a polari>in/ microscope havin/ the
polari>ers crossed< If the crystallites are lar/er than the resolution limit, they will be
visible.
Kosmolo/y
Ehe 5i/ 5an/ theory of the evolution of the observable universe assumes that space is
isotropic.
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It also assumes that space is homo/eneous.
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Ehese two assumptions to/ether
are known as the Kosmolo/ical ,rinciple. 4s of 2@@:, the observations su//est that, on
distance scales much lar/er than /ala.ies, /ala.y clusters are "reat" features, but small
compared to so=called multi=verse scenarios.
Materials science
Ehis sand /rain made of volcanic /lass is isotropic, and thus, stays e.tinct when rotated between
polari>ation filters on a petro/raphic microscope
In the study of mechanical properties of materials, "isotropic" means havin/ identical values of a
property in all directions. Ehis definition is also used in /eolo/y and mineralo/y. lass and
metals are e.amples of isotropic materials.
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Kommon anisotropic materials include wood,
because its material properties are different parallel and perpendicular to the /rain, and layered
minerals such as slate.
Isotropic materials are useful since they are easier to shape, and their behavior is easier to
predict. 4nisotropic materials can be tailored to the forces an ob-ect is e.pected to e.perience.
For e.ample, the fibers in carbon fiber materials and rebars in reinforced concrete are oriented to
withstand tension.
Microfabrication
In industrial processes, such as etchin/ steps, isotropic means that the process proceeds at the
same rate, re/ardless of direction. 9imple chemical reaction and removal of a substrate by an
acid, a solvent or a reactive /as is often very close to isotropic. Konversely, anisotropic means
that the attack rate of the substrate is hi/her in a certain direction. 4nisotropic etch processes,
where vertical etch=rate is hi/h, but lateral etch=rate is very small are essential processes in
microfabrication of inte/rated circuits and 1E19 devices.
Antenna (radio)
4n isotropic antenna is an ideali>ed "radiatin/ element" used as a reference; an antenna that
broadcasts power e&ually !calculated by the ,oyntin/ vector' in all directions. Ehe /ain of an
arbitrary antenna is usually reported in decibels relative to an isotropic antenna, and is e.pressed
as d5i or d5!i'.
Biology
Kell biolo/y
If the properties of the cell wall are more or less the same everywhere, it is said to be
isotropic. Ehe interior of the cell is anisotropic due to intracellular or/anelles.
,hysiolo/y
In skeletal muscle cells !a.k.a. muscle fibers', the term "isotropic" refers to the li/ht
bands !I bands' that contribute to the striated pattern of the cells.
,harmacolo/y
While it is well established that the skin provides an ideal site for the administration of
local and systemic dru/s, it presents a formidable barrier to the permeation of most
substances.
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1ost recently, isotropic formulations have been used e.tensively in
dermatolo/y for dru/ delivery.
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