The nature of the β-peak in the loss modulus of amorphous solids

¹ Department of Chemical Physics, The Weizmann Institute of Science - Rehovot 76100, Israel
² Department of Physics, Università di Roma La Sapienza - Piazzale Aldo Moro 2, Roma, Italy, EU
³ Department of Physics, University of Göttingen - Göttingen, Germany, EU

Received: 19 July 2012
Accepted: 17 October 2012

Abstract

Glass formers exhibit, upon an oscillatory excitation, a response function whose imaginary and real parts are known as the loss and storage moduli, respectively. The loss modulus typically peaks at a frequency known as the α frequency which is associated with the main relaxation mechanism of the super-cooled liquid. In addition, the loss modulus is decorated by a smaller peak, shoulder or wing which is referred to as the β-peak. The physical origin of this secondary peak had been debated for decades, with proposed mechanisms ranging from highly localized relaxations to entirely cooperative ones. Using numerical simulations we bring an end to the debate, exposing a clear and unique cooperative mechanism for the said β-peak which is distinct from that of the α-peak.