Mode-coupling theory of the glass transition in colloidal systems

Abstract

Within a mode-coupling approximation we investigate the influence of the short-time dynamics of colloidal fluids on the glass-transition scenario. We assume Brownian dynamics, neglect hydrodynamic interactions, and follow approximations used to construct a mode-coupling theory (MCT) for structural relaxation in dense atomic fluids with underlying Newtonian dynamics. This approach predicts the same scenario for the kinetic glass transition in colloidal systems as the MCT for atomic systems. We compare this result with recent computer-simulation studies of the glass transition for atomic and colloidal liquids.