Hiking through glassy phases: physics beyond aging

TL;DR

This paper reviews experimental and numerical studies of nonequilibrium glassy dynamics, focusing on protocols involving parameter shifts and cycles, and discusses various theoretical approaches emphasizing the generality of observed phenomena.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive review of experimental, numerical, and theoretical insights into glassy phases beyond aging, highlighting the universality of glassy phenomena.

Findings

Experimental protocols reveal complex aging behaviors.

Numerical results support the universality of glassy dynamics.

Theoretical approaches vary but emphasize common features.

Abstract

Experiments performed on a wide range of glassy materials display many interesting phenomena, such as aging behavior. In recent years, a large body of experiments probed this nonequilibrium glassy dynamics through elaborate protocols, in which external parameters are shifted, or cycled in the course of the experiment. We review here these protocols, as well as experimental and numerical results. Then, we critically discuss various theoretical approaches put forward in this context. Emphasis is put more on the generality of the phenomena than on a specific system. Experiments are also suggested.