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Methods of Ex Situ and In Situ Investigations of Structural Transformations: The Case of Crystallization of Metallic Glasses
Published on: June 7, 2018
Communication: broken-ergodicity and the emergence of solid behaviour in amorphous materials
1Research School of Chemistry, The Australian National University, Canberra ACT 0200, Australia. swilliams@rsc.anu.edu.au
The Journal of Chemical Physics
|October 14, 2011
Summary
Solid behavior in amorphous materials emerges from microscopic interactions. A key fluid symmetry breaks in history-dependent amorphous solids, impacting system response to strain over time.
Area of Science:
- Condensed matter physics
- Materials science
- Computational physics
Background:
- Amorphous materials lack long-range order, unlike crystalline solids.
- Understanding the transition to solid-like behavior in amorphous systems is crucial.
- The role of system history in amorphous material properties is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the microscopic origins of solid behavior in amorphous materials.
- To investigate the impact of history dependence on amorphous solids.
- To analyze the breaking of symmetry upon transitioning to a glassy state.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical modeling
- Molecular dynamics simulations
- Analysis of system response to sudden strain changes
Main Results:
- Demonstrated emergence of solid behavior from microscopic considerations.
- Identified the breaking of a key fluid symmetry in history-dependent amorphous solids.
- Observed dependence of this phenomenon on time scale and sample ensemble.
Conclusions:
- Microscopic interactions dictate solid behavior in amorphous materials.
- History dependence leads to symmetry breaking and altered mechanical response.
- Time scale is a critical factor in observing these amorphous solid properties.
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