Eur. Phys. J. E 9, 227-232 (2002)
DOI: 10.1140/epje/i2002-10071-7

Topological jamming and the glass transition in a frustrated system

B. Chakraborty, D. Das and J. Kondev

Martin Fisher School of Physics, Brandeis University, Mailstop 057, Waltham, MA 02454-9110, USA

bulbul@brandeis.edu

(Received 15 March 2002 / Published online: 17 December 2002)

Abstract
The relationship between extended structures, glassy dynamics and an underlying critical point is examined in the context of a lattice model of fluctuating lines. Monte Carlo simulations are used to construct an effective, coarse-grained dynamics for the "order parameter" near the critical point. Analysis of the effective dynamics reveals that the critical point is associated with diverging barriers leading to the observed Vogel-Fulcher divergence of the relaxation times. A direct connection is established between the presence of extended structures and the activated dynamics.

PACS
64.70.Pf - Glass transitions.
61.20.Lc - Time-dependent properties; relaxation.
64.60.Cn - Order-disorder transformations; statistical mechanics of model systems.

© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag 2002