Random-field-like criticality in glass-forming liquids.
We introduce an approach to derive an effective scalar field theory for the glass transition; the fluctuating field is the overlap between equilibrium configurations. We apply it to the case of constrained liquids for which the introduction of a conjugate source to the overlap field was predicted to lead to an equilibrium critical point. We show that the long-distance physics in the vicinity of this critical point is in the same universality class as that of a paradigmatic disordered model: the random-field Ising model. The quenched disorder is provided here by a reference equilibrium liquid configuration. We discuss to what extent this field-theoretical description and the mapping to the random field Ising model hold in the whole supercooled liquid regime, in particular, near the glass transition.
IPhT, CEA/DSM-CNRS/URA 2306, CEA Saclay, F-91191 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France.
Giulio
G
Biroli
IPhT, CEA/DSM-CNRS/URA 2306, CEA Saclay, F-91191 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France and Dipartimento di Fisica, Ed. Marconi, "Sapienza" Università di Roma, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy.
Chiara
C
Cammarota
LPTMC, CNRS-UMR 7600, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Boîte 121, 4 Place Jussieu, 75252 Paris Cédex 05, France.
Gilles
G
Tarjus
LPTMC, CNRS-UMR 7600, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Boîte 121, 4 Place Jussieu, 75252 Paris Cédex 05, France.
Marco
M
Tarzia