Microscopic models of mode-coupling theory: the $F_{12}$ scenario

Jeferson J. Arenzon, Mauro Sellitto

Published 2012-06-27, updated 2012-08-22Version 2

We provide extended evidence that mode-coupling theory (MCT) of supercooled liquids for the ${\mathsf F}_{12}$ schematic model admits a microscopic realization based on facilitated spin models with tunable facilitation. Depending on the facilitation strength, one observes two distinct dynamic glass transition lines--continuous and discontinuous--merging at a dynamical tricritical-like point with critical decay exponents consistently related by MCT predictions. The mechanisms of dynamical arrest can be naturally interpreted in geometrical terms: the discontinuous and continuous transitions correspond to bootstrap and standard percolation processes, in which the incipient spanning cluster of frozen spins forms either a compact or a fractal structure, respectively. Our cooperative dynamic facilitation picture of glassy behavior is complementary to the one based on disordered systems and can account for higher-order singularity scenarios in the absence of a finite temperature thermodynamic glass transition. We briefly comment on the relevance of our results to finite spatial dimensions and to the ${\mathsf F}_{13}$ schematic model.