Effective Temperature Thermodynamics and the Glass Transition: Connecting Time-Scales

TL;DR

This paper introduces a theory linking effective temperature to non-equilibrium steady states, specifically in radiation amorphization, and suggests its broader applicability to glass transition and plastic deformation.

Contribution

It presents a simple physical argument-based theory connecting effective temperature with non-equilibrium processes like amorphization and glass transition.

Findings

Predicts effective temperature as a function of environmental temperature in radiation amorphization

Links amorphization to dynamical arrest in glass formation

Suggests broader applicability to plastic deformation processes

Abstract

We propose a theory based on simple physical arguments that describes a non equilibrium steady-state by a temperature-like parameter (an "effective temperature"). We show how one can predict the effective temperature as a function of the temperature of the environment for a specific case of non-equilibrium behavior: radiation amorphization. The main idea that we present is that the amorphization process is inherently connected to the dynamical arrest that a liquid undergoes when it transforms into a glass. We suggest that similar arguments may hold also for the effective temperature under plastic deformation.