Dynamic criticality in glass-forming liquids

TL;DR

This paper proposes that the dynamics of supercooled liquids and glass formation are governed by a zero temperature dynamical critical point, supported by a derived field theory and molecular dynamics simulations.

Contribution

It introduces a dynamic field theory for supercooled liquids and identifies a zero temperature critical point in the directed percolation universality class.

Findings

Long-time behavior dominated by zero temperature critical point

Dynamic scaling behavior confirmed by molecular dynamics simulations

Supports the criticality hypothesis in glass-forming liquids

Abstract

We propose that the dynamics of supercooled liquids and the formation of glasses can be understood from the existence of a zero temperature dynamical critical point. To support our proposal, we derive from simple physical assumptions a dynamic field theory for supercooled liquids, which we study using the renormalization group (RG). Its long time behaviour is dominated by a zero temperature critical point, which for dimensions d > 2 belongs to the directed percolation universality class. Molecular dynamics simulations confirm the existence of dynamic scaling behaviour consistent with the RG predictions.