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Updated: Oct 11, 2025
08:55
Methods of Ex Situ and In Situ Investigations of Structural Transformations: The Case of Crystallization of Metallic Glasses
Published on: June 7, 2018
8.6K
Low-energy quasilocalized excitations in structural glasses
Edan Lerner1, Eran Bouchbinder2
1Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
The Journal of Chemical Physics
|December 2, 2021
Summary
This study explores low-energy excitations in glassy solids, revealing their crucial role in unique thermomechanical properties. Understanding these quasilocalized excitations (QLEs) is key to unlocking glass behavior.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Solid-State Physics
Background:
- Glassy solids display unique thermomechanical properties distinct from crystalline materials.
- These properties have long been hypothesized to relate to nonphononic, low-energy quasilocalized excitations (QLEs).
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the emergence and universality of QLEs in structural glasses over the past three decades.
- To discuss challenges in understanding QLEs and frameworks developed to address them.
Main Methods:
- Review of developments in understanding QLEs in structural glasses.
- Analysis of computer simulations demonstrating QLE emergence during vitrification.
- Examination of statistical and structural properties of QLEs.
Main Results:
- Computer simulations confirm the emergence of QLEs during glass vitrification.
- QLEs are strongly linked to the distinctive thermomechanical properties of glasses.
- Progress has been made in understanding the universality of QLE properties.
Conclusions:
- QLEs are fundamental to understanding the behavior of glassy solids.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the role and universality of QLEs.
- Open questions remain regarding the precise mechanisms and implications of QLEs.
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