Inhomogeneous mode-coupling theory and growing dynamic length in supercooled liquids.
We extend mode-coupling theory (MCT) to inhomogeneous situations, relevant for supercooled liquid in an external field. We compute the response of the dynamical structure factor to a static inhomogeneous external potential and provide the first direct evidence that the standard formulation of MCT is associated with a diverging length scale. We find that the so-called cages are, in fact, extended objects. Although close to the transition the dynamic length grows as |T-T(c)|(-1/4) in both the beta and alpha regimes, our results suggest that the fractal dimension of correlated clusters is larger in the alpha regime. We derive inhomogeneous MCT equations valid to second order in gradients.
Biroli
Giulio
G
Service de Physique Théorique, Orme des Merisiers-CEA Saclay, 91191 Gif sur Yvette Cedex, France.
Bouchaud
Jean-Philippe
JP
Miyazaki
Kunimasa
K
Reichman
David R
DR