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Updated: Apr 27, 2026

An Analog Macroscopic Technique for Studying Molecular Hydrodynamic Processes in Dense Gases and Liquids
Published on: December 4, 2017
From cage-jump motion to macroscopic diffusion in supercooled liquids.
Raffaele Pastore1, Antonio Coniglio, Massimo Pica Ciamarra
1CNR-SPIN, Sezione di Napoli, Italy. pastore@na.infn.it.
Predicting long-term material stability in structural glasses is challenging. This study reveals that analyzing single-particle jumps allows early prediction of long-time dynamics, even before diffusion occurs.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Statistical Mechanics
Background:
- Predicting long-term dynamics of amorphous materials like structural glasses from static measurements is difficult.
- Understanding material stability requires accurate estimation of long-time dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the necessary monitoring duration for predicting long-time features of structural glasses.
- To characterize the statistical features of single-particle intermittent motion in these materials.
Main Methods:
- Detailed characterization of statistical features of single-particle intermittent motion.
- Analysis of particle trajectories using a parameter-free algorithm.
Main Results:
- Single-particle jumps identified as irreversible events driving system relaxation.
- Diffusion constant evaluated on the small, temperature-independent timescale of jump duration.
- Prediction of long-time dynamics achieved before the system enters the diffusive regime.
Conclusions:
- Early prediction of long-time material stability is feasible by analyzing particle jump dynamics.
- Single-particle jumps are critical indicators of relaxation and long-term behavior in structural glasses.
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