Time correlation functions between Inherent Structures: a connection between landscape topology and the dynamics of glassy systems

G. FABRICIUS; D.A.STARIOLO

PHYSICA A - STATISTICAL AND THEORETICAL PHYSICS

Elsevier

Año: 2004 vol. 331 p. 90 - 98

0378-4371

In this work we introduce time correlation functions between inherent structures (IS) of a supercooled liquid. We show that these functions are useful to relate the slowing down of the dynamics to the structure ofthe energy landscape near the glass transition temperature. They show a short-time regime during which the system remains in the basin ofa particular IS and a long-time regime where it explores the neighbourhood ofan IS. We compare the behaviour ofthese functions in a binary Lennard-Jones glass and in a model oftraps and show that they behave qualitatively di6erent. This comparison re7ects the presence/absence ofstructure in the landscape ofthe Lennard-Jones/traps models. Possible scenarios for the structure ofthe landscape which are compatible with these results are discussed.