Optimized Monte Carlo Method for glasses

A new Monte Carlo algorithm is introduced for the simulation of supercooled liquids and glass formers, and tested in two model glasses. The algorithm is shown to thermalize well below the Mode Coupling temperature and to outperform other optimized Monte Carlo methods. Using the algorithm, we obtain finite size effects in the specific heat. This effect points to the existence of a large correlation length measurable in equal time correlation functions.Comment: Proceedings of "X International workshop on Disordered Systems" held in Molveno (Italy), March 200

Finite size effects in the specific heat of glass-formers

We report clear finite size effects in the specific heat and in the relaxation times of a model glass former at temperatures considerably smaller than the Mode Coupling transition. A crucial ingredient to reach this result is a new Monte Carlo algorithm which allows us to reduce the relaxation time by two order of magnitudes. These effects signal the existence of a large correlation length in static quantities.Comment: Proceeding of "3rd International Workshop on Complex Systems". Sendai (Japan). To appear on AIP Conference serie

On the critical behavior of the specific heat in glass-formers

We show numeric evidence that, at low enough temperatures, the potential energy density of a glass-forming liquid fluctuates over length scales much larger than the interaction range. We focus on the behavior of translationally invariant quantities. The growing correlation length is unveiled by studying the Finite Size effects. In the thermodynamic limit, the specific heat and the relaxation time diverge as a power law. Both features point towards the existence of a critical point in the metastable supercooled liquid phase.Comment: Version to be published in Phys. Rev.

Comprehensive study of the critical behavior in the diluted antiferromagnet in a field

We study the critical behavior of the Diluted Antiferromagnet in a Field with the Tethered Monte Carlo formalism. We compute the critical exponents (including the elusive hyperscaling violations exponent $\theta$). Our results provide a comprehensive description of the phase transition and clarify the inconsistencies between previous experimental and theoretical work. To do so, our method addresses the usual problems of numerical work (large tunneling barriers and self-averaging violations).Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure