An elastic lattice in a random potential

TL;DR

This study uses Monte Carlo simulations to explore how an elastic triangular lattice behaves in a random potential, revealing a sharp transition between two glass phases with distinct correlation decay patterns, challenging continuum model predictions.

Contribution

It provides new insights into phase transitions in elastic lattices under disorder, especially the abrupt crossover between glass phases observed through simulations.

Findings

Identified a sudden crossover between two glass phases with different correlation decay behaviors.

Found no evidence of the predicted mean-square displacement crossover from quadratic to logarithmic growth.

Challenged existing continuum model predictions regarding displacement growth in disordered elastic lattices.

Abstract

Using Monte Carlo simulations, we study the properties of an elastic triangular lattice subject to a random background potential. As the cooling rate is reduced, we observe a rather sudden crossover between two different glass phases, one with exponential decay of correlations, the other with power-law decay. Contrary to predictions derived from continuum models, no evidence of a crossover in the mean-square displacement, B(r), from quadratic growth at small r, to logarithmic growth at large r is found.