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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
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Amorphous Order and Nonlinear Susceptibilities in Glassy Materials
Giulio Biroli1, Jean-Philippe Bouchaud2,3, Francois Ladieu4
1Laboratoire de Physique de l'Ecole Normale Supérieure, Université PSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris, F-75005 Paris, France.
The Journal of Physical Chemistry. B
|July 12, 2021
Summary
Anomalous nonlinear response in glassy systems indicates growing amorphous order. Experimental data align with random first-order transition theory, challenging purely kinetic explanations for glass formation.
Area of Science:
- Condensed matter physics
- Statistical mechanics
Background:
- Glassy systems exhibit complex dynamics.
- Nonlinear response is a key probe of system behavior.
- Understanding amorphous order is crucial for glass science.
Purpose of the Study:
- Review 15 years of research on nonlinear response in glassy systems.
- Identify signatures of amorphous order.
- Reconcile experimental findings with theoretical predictions.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical analysis of nonlinear susceptibilities.
- Experimental data review of supercooled liquids and spin-glasses.
- Comparison with random first-order transition (RFOT) theory and kinetic theories.
Main Results:
- Anomalous growth in nonlinear susceptibility peaks signals increasing amorphous order.
- Experimental results from supercooled liquids support RFOT predictions of growing 'glassites'.
- Kinetic theories struggle to explain these observed behaviors.
Conclusions:
- The nonlinear response provides a signature for amorphous order in glasses.
- RFOT theory offers a robust framework for understanding glass formation.
- Kinetic theories alone are insufficient to explain key experimental observations.
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