Self-organization and the physics of glassy networks

Abstract

Network glasses are the physical prototype for many self-organized systems, ranging from proteins to computer science. Conventional theories of gases, liquids, and crystals do not account for the strongly material-selective character of the glass-forming tendency, the phase diagrams of glasses, or their optimizable properties. A new topological theory, only 25 years old, has succeeded where conventional theories have failed. It shows that (probably all slowly quenched) glasses, including network glasses, are the result of the combined effects of a few simple mechanisms. These glass-forming mechanisms are topological in nature, and have already been identified for several important glasses, including chalcogenide alloys, silicates (window glass, computer chips), and proteins."Some four thousand years ago man discovered glass in the embers of a fire built somewhere in the deserts of the Near East. A few years from now ultratransparent glass fibers will be transmitting [much, much, much!] more information than copper wires"[1]. As foreseen 25 years ago, the Internet has indeed revolutionized our world. In this article certain phrases will appear in {}s: the interactive reader will find background on the quoted topics with his Internet Browser. What was unforeseeable 25 years ago was the discovery of an important new class of electronic glasses, doped cuprates, exhibiting not only high temperature superconductivity (~ 100K), but also "strange metal" transport anomalies right up to the annealing temperature (700 K) -a sure sign of electronic glassy arrest. Theory has identified two new topological phase transitions in network glasses,

Percolative theories of strongly disordered ceramic high-temperature superconductors

“…So far this "zigzag" interlayer percolative model (ZZIP) (8) has not been used to calculate either normal-state or superconductive properties from first principles. However, if one is familiar with the filamentary principles associated with self-organized glassy networks (9,10), one can use homology arguments to describe material properties (such as T c ) very economically. In this way not only was a master function defining strict least upper bounds on T c established (11) (14).…”

Short range order in Ge–As–Se glasses

“…Random networks, in which stressed configurations are avoided if possible, show two transitions and an intermediate state that is rigid but stress-free [21]. By temperature-modulated differential scanning calorimetry and Raman scattering measurements a thermally reversing compositional window was reported, where the glasses are generally non-aging [22,23].…”

The jamming scenario—an introduction and outlook

“…Instead of density and shear stress, Phillips argued that the key control variable is the glass composition [2]. Based on a model of rigidity percolation proposed by Thorpe, where springs are randomly deposited on a lattice [3,4], it was argued that glass properties are controlled by a critical point at zero temperature. The jamming transition can be viewed as a special case of the generic rigidity percolation problem in which the system self-organized to avoid large fluctuations in its structure.…”