https://doi.org/10.1140/epjst/e2007-00053-7
Temperature-dependent investigations of locally observed particle configurations in a binary 2D colloidal glass former
Fachbereich Physik, Universität Konstanz, 78457 Konstanz, Germany Institut für Physik, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, 55099 Mainz, Germany System Electric Power Quality GmbH, 63589 Linsengericht, Germany
In a binary two-dimensional (2D) colloidal glass former of repulsive interaction, the experimentally observed local particle configurations are studied by the shapes of triangles of nearest neighboring particles (TNNP). Higher order peaks of the partial radial pair distribution functions, which become well-pronounced in strongly supercooled liquids or the glassy state, can be related to local density-optimized particle arrangements of the TNNP. An intriguing interplay is observed between local density-optimized and structurally frustrated regions. It seems that binary 2D glass formers could be excellent model glass formers showing characteristic structural features of normal and supercooled liquids as well as of the glassy state in a simple way.
© EDP Sciences, Springer-Verlag, 2007
