Universal aspects of the random first order phase transition theory of the structural glass transition

Abstract

We analyze the ways in which the random first order phase transition (RFOT) of the glass transition differs from the well-studied regular first order and second order (or continuous) phase transitions. Just as is the case in the latter two classes of phase transitions, the RFOT also exhibits universal features. Here, we discuss these features and compare and contrast the RFOT with other types of transitions with an emphasis on the structural glass transition problem. An important feature of the complete RFOT theory is that it has at least two distinct transition temperatures, one of which is a dynamical (avoided) transition signaling loss of effective ergodicity, and the other is an equilibrium ideal glass transition. Particular attention is paid to the coherence, or correlation, length associated with these transitions in the RFOT. We also derive universal scaling relations for several experimentally measurable quantities that are valid near the ideal glass transition. In particular, activated scaling ideas are used to obtain a scaling equation for the non-linear structural glass susceptibility as the ideal glass transition is approached. Important finite corrections to the ideal glass transition temperature are also discussed. Our work provides additional criteria for assessing the validity of RFOT theory of the liquid to glass transition, and provides a firm theoretical foundation for analyzing experimental data on the temperature dependence of the relaxation times.