Inspection paradox and jump detection in glassy systems

TL;DR

This paper introduces a parameter-free, model-independent method based on the inspection paradox to detect particle jumps in glassy systems, enabling precise analysis of their dynamics near phase transitions.

Contribution

The authors develop a novel, simple, and general method to identify particle jumps without relying on adjustable parameters, applicable to both simulations and experiments.

Findings

Effective detection of jumps without free parameters

Applicable to a wide range of glassy systems

Reveals characteristic time and length scales of jumps

Abstract

Dynamics in glassy systems near the phase transition is characterized by particle jumps. Approaches to describe these dynamics are based on models in which the time and length scales defining the jumps are parameters to be determined. We instead propose a model-independent method to detect these jumps. Our method uses the theory of the inspection paradox to analyze particle trajectories and reveals the time and length scales defining a jump without free parameters. Given its simplicity and generality, our method can be applied to resolve hopping motion in a broad class of systems, including experimental ones.