On the Adam-Gibbs-Wolynes scenario for the viscosity increase in glasses

TL;DR

This paper revises the mean-field glass transition scenario for finite-dimensional systems, emphasizing a temperature-dependent length scale and supporting the mosaic state, which underpins the Adam-Gibbs relation linking viscosity and configurational entropy.

Contribution

It reformulates the mean-field glass transition interpretation for real systems, introducing a temperature-dependent length scale and supporting the mosaic state concept.

Findings

Establishes a temperature-dependent length scale xi* for glass transition modifications.

Supports the mosaic state model leading to the Adam-Gibbs relation.

Discusses physical implications of the mosaic state and relaxation dynamics.

Abstract

We reformulate the interpretation of the mean-field glass transition scenario for finite dimensional systems, proposed by Wolynes and collaborators. This allows us to establish clearly a temperature dependent length xi* above which the mean-field glass transition picture has to be modified. We argue in favor of the mosaic state introduced by Wolynes and collaborators, which leads to the Adam-Gibbs relation between the viscosity and configurational entropy of glass forming liquids. Our argument is a mixture of thermodynamics and kinetics, partly inspired by the Random Energy Model: small clusters of particles are thermodynamically frozen in low energy states, whereas large clusters are kinetically frozen by large activation energies. The relevant relaxation time is that of the smallest `liquid' clusters. Some physical consequences are discussed.