Tests of mode-coupling theory in two dimensions

Abstract

We analyze the glassy dynamics of binary mixtures of hard disks in two dimensions. Predictions of the mode-coupling theory (MCT) are tested with extensive Brownian dynamics simulations. Measuring the collective particle density correlation functions in the vicinity of the glass transition, we verify four predicted mixing effects. For instance, for large size disparities, adding a small amount of small particles at a fixed packing fraction leads to a speedup in the long-time dynamics, while for small size disparities it leads to a slowing-down. Qualitative features of the nonergodicity parameters and the β relaxation, which both depend in a nontrivial way on the mixing ratio, are found in the simulated correlators. Studying one system in detail, we are able to determine its ideal MCT glass transition point as φ(c)=0.7948 and test MCT predictions quantitatively.