# Rearrangement of 2D aggregates of droplets under compression: signatures of the energy landscape from crystal to glass

## TL;DR

This study investigates how the energy landscape of 2D droplet aggregates evolves from crystal to glass states under compression, revealing distinct fracture behaviors and the influence of disorder on yielding properties.

## Contribution

It introduces an experimental approach to analyze the energy landscape signatures during the crystal-to-glass transition in 2D droplet aggregates.

## Key findings

- Crystals fracture catastrophically, releasing all stored energy.
- Glassy aggregates break gradually, step-by-step.
- Small disorder significantly affects the aggregate's yielding behavior.

## Abstract

We study signatures of the energy landscape's evolution through the crystal-to-glass transition by compressing 2D finite aggregates of oil droplets. Droplets of two distinct sizes are used to compose small aggregates in an aqueous environment. Aggregates range from perfectly ordered monodisperse single crystals to disordered bidisperse glasses. The aggregates are compressed between two parallel boundaries, with one acting as a force sensor. The compression force provides a signature of the aggregate composition and gives insight into the energy landscape. In particular, crystals dissipate all the stored energy through single catastrophic fracture events whereas the glassy aggregates break step-by-step. Remarkably, the yielding properties of the 2D aggregates are strongly impacted by even a small amount of disorder.