Onset of rigidty in glasses: from random to self-organized networks

TL;DR

This paper reviews the discovery of an intermediate elastic phase in glasses where self-organization prevents stress, contrasting with traditional random network models, and discusses experimental and theoretical insights into this phase.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of a stress-free intermediate phase in glasses resulting from self-organization, expanding understanding beyond random network models.

Findings

Identification of an intermediate phase in glasses with self-organized networks

Experimental signatures of stress-free networks in specific compositions

Theoretical models describing the self-organized elastic phase

Abstract

We review in this paper the signatures of a new elastic phase that is found in glasses with selected compositions. It is shown that in contrast with random networks, where rigidity percolates at a single threshold, networks that are able to self-organize to avoid stress will remain in an almost stress- free state during a compositional interval, an intermediate phase, that is bounded by a flexible phase and a stressed rigid phase. We report the experimental signatures and describe the theoretical efforts that have been accomplished to characterize the intermediate phase. We illustrate one of the methods used in more detail with the example of Group III chalcogenides and finally suggest further possible experimental signatures of self-organization.