title: Microscopic theory of heterogeneity and nonexponential relaxations in supercooled liquids.
abstract: Recent experiments show that supercooled liquids around the glass transition temperature are "dynamically heterogeneous" [H. Sillescu, J. Non-Cryst. Solids 243, 81 (1999)]. Such heterogeneity is expected from the random first order transition theory of the glass transition. Using a microscopic approach based on this theory, we derive a relation between the departure from Debye relaxation as characterized by the beta value of a stretched exponential response function, phi(t) = e(-(t/tau(KWW))beta), and the fragility of the liquid. The beta value is also predicted to depend on temperature and to vanish as the ideal glass transition is approached at the Kauzmann temperature.
authors: Department of Physics and Chemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA.
authors: X
authors: X
authors: Xia
authors: P G
authors: PG
authors: Wolynes