Dynamical heterogeneities in a two dimensional driven glassy model: current fluctuations and finite size effects

TL;DR

This paper investigates how spatial structures and finite-size effects influence current fluctuations and blocking in a driven glassy system with kinetic constraints, revealing a first-order transition in current large deviations.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed analysis of spatial heterogeneities and finite-size effects in a driven glassy model, linking them to current fluctuations and phase coexistence.

Findings

Long-lived spatial structures cause blocking and current decrease.

A first-order transition in the large deviation function indicates coexistence.

Finite-size effects reveal a typical length scale between mobile regions.

Abstract

In this article, we demonstrate that in a transport model of particles with kinetic constraints, long-lived spatial structures are responsible for the blocking dynamics and the decrease of the current at strong driving field. Coexistence between mobile and blocked regions can be anticipated by a first-order transition in the large deviation function for the current. By a study of the system under confinement, we are able to study finite-size effects and extract a typical length between mobile regions.