6533b86efe1ef96bd12cb4e3
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Experimental Evidence for a Structural-Dynamical Transition in Trajectory Space.
C. Patrick RoyallRattachai PinchaipatFrancesco TurciThomas SpeckJames E. HallettMatteo Camposubject
PhysicsQuantum phase transitionPhase transitionFOS: Physical sciencesGeneral Physics and Astronomy02 engineering and technologyHard spheresCondensed Matter - Soft Condensed Matter021001 nanoscience & nanotechnologySpace (mathematics)01 natural sciencesCondensed Matter::Soft Condensed MatterClassical mechanicsPhase (matter)0103 physical sciencesTrajectorySoft Condensed Matter (cond-mat.soft)Statistical physics010306 general physics0210 nano-technologySupercoolingGlass transitiondescription
Among the key insights into the glass transition has been the identification of a non-equilibrium phase transition in trajectory space which reveals phase coexistence between the normal supercooled liquid (active phase) and a glassy state (inactive phase). Here we present evidence that such a transition occurs in experiment. In colloidal hard spheres we find a non-Gaussian distribution of trajectories leaning towards those rich in locally favoured structures (LFS), associated with the emergence of slow dynamics. This we interpret as evidence for an non-equilibrium transition to an inactive LFS-rich phase. Reweighting trajectories reveals a first-order phase transition in trajectory space between a normal liquid and a LFS-rich phase. We further find evidence of a purely dynamical transition in trajectory space.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-09-01 | Physical review letters |