Inverse Freezing in Mean-Field Models of Fragile Glasses

TL;DR

This paper introduces a disordered spin model that captures inverse freezing phenomena in fragile glasses, revealing complex phase transitions including first-order lines and critical points, and demonstrating inverse static and dynamic freezing behaviors.

Contribution

The paper presents a microscopic spin model that realizes inverse freezing and complex phase transitions, advancing understanding of glass formation in fragile systems.

Findings

Phase diagram shows a first-order transition line ending at a critical point.

Inverse static glass transition occurs under entropic favoring of degrees of freedom.

Double inverse dynamic freezing is observed in the model.

Abstract

A disordered spin model suitable for studying inverse freezing in fragile glass-forming systems is introduced. The model is a microscopic realization of the ``random-first order'' scenario in which the glass transition can be either continuous or discontinuous in thermodynamic sense. The phase diagram exhibits a first-order transition line between two fluid phases terminating at a critical point. When the interacting degrees of freedom are entropically favoured an inverse static glass transition and a double inverse dynamic freezing appear.