Glass transition as a topological phase transition

TL;DR

This paper proposes a novel topological phase transition framework for understanding the glass transition, linking topologically protected excitations to thermodynamic and kinetic properties observed experimentally.

Contribution

It introduces a simple model of topological defects in elastic media that reproduces key thermodynamic and kinetic features of the glass transition.

Findings

Reproduces Vogel-Fulcher-Tammann law behavior.

Explains susceptibility and non-linear susceptibilities near transition.

Accounts for heat capacity and boson peak phenomena.

Abstract

The glass transition is considered as a phase transition in the system of topologically protected excitations in matter structure. The critical behavior of the system is considered both in statics and dynamics cases. It is shown in the simple model describing the topological defects system in the elastic medium with non-zero shear modulus, most of characteristic thermodynamic and kinetic properties of glass transition are reproduced: the Vogel--Fulcher--Tammann law; the behavior of susceptibility, and non-linear susceptibilities; heat capacity behavior; and boson peak near the glass transition temperature.