Abstract:Année de publication : 2004
We reformulate the interpretation of the mean-field glass transition scenario for finite dimensional systems, proposed by Wolynes and collaborators. This allows us to establish clearly a temperature dependent length $\xi^{*}$ above which the mean-field glass transition picture has to be modified. We argue in favor of the mosaic state introduced by Wolynes and collaborators, which leads to the Adam-Gibbs relation between the viscosity and configurational entropy of glass forming liquids. Our argument is a mixture of thermodynamics and kinetics, partly inspired by the Random Energy Model: small clusters of particles are thermodynamically frozen in low energy states, whereas large clusters are kinetically frozen by large activation energies. The relevant relaxation time is that of the smallest `liquid' clusters. Some physical consequences are discussed.
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