We introduce an approach to derive an effective scalar field theory for the glass transition; the fluctuating field is the overlap between equilibrium configurations. We apply it to the case of constrained liquids for which the introduction of a conjugate source to the overlap field was predicted to lead to an equilibrium critical point. We show that the long-distance physics in the vicinity of this critical point is in the same universality class as that of a paradigmatic disordered model: the random-field Ising model. The quenched disorder is provided here by a reference equilibrium liquid configuration. We discuss to what extent this field-theoretical description and the mapping to the random field Ising model hold in the whole supercooled liquid regime, in particular, near the glass transition. © 2014 American Physical Society.
Random-Field-like Criticality in Glass-Forming Liquids / Giulio, Biroli; Cammarota, Chiara; Tarjus, Gilles; Gilles, Tarjus; Marco, Tarzia. - In: PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS. - ISSN 0031-9007. - 112:17(2014), p. 175701. [10.1103/physrevlett.112.175701]
Random-Field-like Criticality in Glass-Forming Liquids
CAMMAROTA, CHIARA;
2014
Abstract
We introduce an approach to derive an effective scalar field theory for the glass transition; the fluctuating field is the overlap between equilibrium configurations. We apply it to the case of constrained liquids for which the introduction of a conjugate source to the overlap field was predicted to lead to an equilibrium critical point. We show that the long-distance physics in the vicinity of this critical point is in the same universality class as that of a paradigmatic disordered model: the random-field Ising model. The quenched disorder is provided here by a reference equilibrium liquid configuration. We discuss to what extent this field-theoretical description and the mapping to the random field Ising model hold in the whole supercooled liquid regime, in particular, near the glass transition. © 2014 American Physical Society.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.