Zero-temperature Avalanche Criticality Governing Dynamical Heterogeneity in Supercooled Liquids

TL;DR

This paper shows that the growth of dynamical heterogeneity in supercooled liquids can be explained by a zero-temperature avalanche criticality framework, linking system size and temperature effects.

Contribution

It introduces a zero-temperature avalanche criticality model to explain the system-size and temperature dependence of dynamical heterogeneity in supercooled liquids.

Findings

Dynamical heterogeneity size increases with cooling.

System-size dependence of heterogeneity is explained by avalanche criticality.

Molecular simulations support the avalanche criticality explanation.

Abstract

In supercooled liquids, mesoscale mobile and immobile domains are ubiquitously observed, a phenomenon known as dynamical heterogeneity. Extensive studies have established that the characteristic size of these domains grows upon cooling and exhibits system-size dependence. However, the physical origin of this domain growth remains a matter of active debate. In this work, using molecular simulations, we demonstrate that the temperature and system-size dependence of dynamical heterogeneity can be explained within a zero-temperature avalanche criticality picture.