Topologically Induced Glass Transition in Freely Rotating Rods

We present a simple minimal model which allows numerical and analytical study of a glass transition. This is a model of rigid rods with fixed centers of rotation. The rods can rotate freely but cannot cross each other. The ratio l of the length of the rods to the distance between the centers of rotation is the only parameter of this model. With increasing l we observed a sharp crossover to practically infinite relaxation times in 2d arrays of rods. In 3d we found a real transition to a completely frozen random state at l(c) congruent to 4.5.

Duke Scholars

Author Michael Rubinstein Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materia ...