LOCALIZATION AND GLASS-TRANSITION IN 2-DIMENSIONAL LIQUIDS

Molecular dynamic computer simulations of a two-dimensional Lennard-Jones liquid, along several isotherms, have been carried out to search for a distinct transition from a compressed liquid to an amorphous solid. The dynamics of the transition is examined in terms of tagged-particle van Hove correlation functions, for times up to 600 ps. The onset of localization and the transition to non-ergodicity occur simultaneously and abruptly within a very narrow range of density. Further analysis of the data on the intermediate scattering function indicate a good fit to a stretched exponential with an exponent beta equal to 0.62 and that this exponent is nearly independent of temperature. Thus, for the time scales investigated by this simulation, it is concluded that the transition observed is a glass transition.