Observation of a glass transition in suspensions of spherical colloidal particles

Abstract

Concentrated suspensions of submicron colloidal spheres were studied both by dynamic light scattering and by direct observation of their phase behavior. In agreement with recent theory and computer simulation, the measured dynamic structure factor developed an essentially nondecaying component, implying ``structural arrest,'' at almost the same concentration as that at which a long-lived amorphous or glass phase was first observed.