Multiple Glasses in Asymmetric Binary Hard Spheres

TL;DR

This paper explores multiple distinct glass states in asymmetric binary hard-sphere mixtures, revealing complex transition phenomena and dynamic behaviors predicted by mode-coupling theory.

Contribution

It identifies and characterizes different glass states in binary mixtures with large size disparity, highlighting higher-order transitions and anomalous diffusion.

Findings

Multiple glass states are predicted in asymmetric mixtures.

Higher-order transition phenomena involve logarithmic decay laws.

Anomalous power-law diffusion occurs near transition points.

Abstract

Multiple distinct glass states occur in binary hard-sphere mixtures with constituents of very disparate sizes according to the mode-coupling theory of the glass transition (MCT), distinguished by considering whether small particles remain mobile or not, and whether small particles contribute significantly to perturb the big-particle structure or not. In the idealized glass, the four different glasses are separated by sharp transitions that give rise to higher-order transition phenomena involving logarithmic decay laws, and to anomalous power-law-like diffusion. The phenomena are argued to be expected generally in glass-forming mixtures.