219 research outputs found
From Liquid Structure to Configurational Entropy: Introducing Structural Covariance
We connect the configurational entropy of a liquid to the geometrical
properties of its local energy landscape, using a high-temperature expansion.
It is proposed that correlations between local structures arises from their
overlap and, being geometrical in nature, can be usefully determined using the
inherent structures of high temperature liquids. We show quantitatively how the
high-temperature covariance of these local structural fluctuations arising from
their geometrical overlap, combined with their energetic stability, control the
decrease of entropy with decreasing energy. We apply this formalism to a family
of Favoured Local Structure (FLS) lattice models with two low symmetry FLS's
which are found to either crystallize or form a glass on cooling. The
covariance, crystal energy and estimated freezing temperature are tested as
possible predictors of glass-forming ability in the model system
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