Critical dynamics near the glass transition as explored with muon spin relaxation

Abstract

The dynamics of two molecular glass formers are monitored at microsecond scales via muon spin relaxation. Measurements in transverse magnetic fields display unambiguous signatures of critical behavior at temperatures somewhat above those signaling the thermodynamic glass transition, namely at the onset of stochastic molecular motions. The temperature dependence of transverse relaxation rates and amplitudes is found to provide accurate and unbiased estimates for a critical temperature Tc as predicted by kinetic theories of the glass transition. ©2004 American Physical Society