Low-temperature specific heat and thermal conductivity of a glassy polymer under applied pressure

Low-energy quasilocalized excitations in structural glasses

Glassy solids exhibit a wide variety of generic thermomechanical properties, ranging from universal anomalous specific heat at cryogenic temperatures to nonlinear plastic yielding and failure under external driving forces, which qualitatively differ from their crystalline counterparts. For a long time, it has been believed that many of these properties are intimately related to nonphononic, low-energy quasilocalized excitations (QLEs) in glasses. Indeed, recent computer simulations have conclusively revealed that the self-organization of glasses during vitrification upon cooling from a melt leads to the emergence of such QLEs. In this Perspective, we review developments over the past three decades toward understanding the emergence of QLEs in structural glasses and the degree of universality in their statistical and structural properties. We discuss the challenges and difficulties that hindered progress in achieving these goals and review the frameworks put forward to overcome them. We conclude with an outlook on future research directions and open questions.

Electronic specific heats for amorphous and crystallized alloys

The low temperature specific heats of (Fe_0.5Co_0.5)₇₂B₂₀Si₄Nb₄ amorphous and crystallized alloys are measured and analyzed from 1.4 to 110 K. Specific heats can be well fitted by electronic and phonon contribution terms. It is found that the electronic contribution term in specific heat for amorphous alloy is larger than that for crystallized one, and this phenomenon has been interpreted in detail. The research shows that the electronic density of states at the Fermi level and the localized loose “rattler” atoms in oversized cage structure may make contributions to the enhancement of electronic specific heat coefficient γ, and result in a larger electronic contribution term. This study is significant for further understanding the structure–property relationship for amorphous alloys at low temperature.