Abstract
Phase transitions significantly differ between 2D and 3D systems, but the influence of dimensionality on the glass transition is unresolved. We use microscopy to study colloidal systems as they approach their glass transitions at high concentrations and find differences between two dimensions and three dimensions. We find that, in two dimensions, particles can undergo large displacements without changing their position relative to their neighbors, in contrast with three dimensions. This is related to Mermin-Wagner long-wavelength fluctuations that influence phase transitions in two dimensions. However, when measuring particle motion only relative to their neighbors, two dimensions and three dimensions have similar behavior as the glass transition is approached, showing that the long-wavelength fluctuations do not cause a fundamental distinction between 2D and 3D glass transitions.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1850-1855 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America |
| Volume | 114 |
| Issue number | 8 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Feb 21 2017 |
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Keywords
- Colloidal glass transition
- Dimensionality
- Long-wavelength fluctuations
- Phase transition
- Two-dimensional physics
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General
Cite this
Long-wavelength fluctuations and the glass transition in two dimensions and three dimensions. / Vivek, Skanda; Kelleher, Colm P.; Chaikin, Paul M.; Weeks, Eric R.
In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Vol. 114, No. 8, 21.02.2017, p. 1850-1855.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Long-wavelength fluctuations and the glass transition in two dimensions and three dimensions
AU - Vivek, Skanda
AU - Kelleher, Colm P.
AU - Chaikin, Paul M.
AU - Weeks, Eric R.
PY - 2017/2/21
Y1 - 2017/2/21
N2 - Phase transitions significantly differ between 2D and 3D systems, but the influence of dimensionality on the glass transition is unresolved. We use microscopy to study colloidal systems as they approach their glass transitions at high concentrations and find differences between two dimensions and three dimensions. We find that, in two dimensions, particles can undergo large displacements without changing their position relative to their neighbors, in contrast with three dimensions. This is related to Mermin-Wagner long-wavelength fluctuations that influence phase transitions in two dimensions. However, when measuring particle motion only relative to their neighbors, two dimensions and three dimensions have similar behavior as the glass transition is approached, showing that the long-wavelength fluctuations do not cause a fundamental distinction between 2D and 3D glass transitions.
AB - Phase transitions significantly differ between 2D and 3D systems, but the influence of dimensionality on the glass transition is unresolved. We use microscopy to study colloidal systems as they approach their glass transitions at high concentrations and find differences between two dimensions and three dimensions. We find that, in two dimensions, particles can undergo large displacements without changing their position relative to their neighbors, in contrast with three dimensions. This is related to Mermin-Wagner long-wavelength fluctuations that influence phase transitions in two dimensions. However, when measuring particle motion only relative to their neighbors, two dimensions and three dimensions have similar behavior as the glass transition is approached, showing that the long-wavelength fluctuations do not cause a fundamental distinction between 2D and 3D glass transitions.
KW - Colloidal glass transition
KW - Dimensionality
KW - Long-wavelength fluctuations
KW - Phase transition
KW - Two-dimensional physics
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85013171000&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85013171000&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1073/pnas.1607226113
DO - 10.1073/pnas.1607226113
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85013171000
VL - 114
SP - 1850
EP - 1855
JO - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
JF - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
SN - 0027-8424
IS - 8
ER -