Structure of the glassy state

Abstract

The formulation of the Gibbs ensemble is extended to the glassy state by the consideration of ensemble theory in a restricted phase space. The pair distribution functions of infinitely-fast-quenched Lennard-Jones glasses are calculated and are found to be in good agreement with computer simulations. A model for the microscopic origins of the glassy state is introduced for a slow-quench situation and is found to correspond to the roughening transition of grain boundaries, resulting in the determination of an upper bound for the glass transition temperature.