Connecting structural relaxation with the low frequency modes in a hard-sphere colloidal glass

Phys Rev Lett. 2011 Oct 28;107(18):188303. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.107.188303. Epub 2011 Oct 27.

Abstract

Structural relaxation in hard-sphere colloidal glasses has been studied using confocal microscopy. The motion of individual particles is followed over long time scales to detect the rearranging regions in the system. We have used normal mode analysis to understand the origin of the rearranging regions. The low-frequency modes, obtained over short time scales, show strong spatial correlation with the rearrangements that happen on long time scales.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Colloids / chemistry*
  • Glass / chemistry*
  • Probability
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Colloids