What have we learned after two decades of studying confined polymer glasses?
Par James Forrest, University of Waterloo, Canada, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of waterloo and Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, Waterloo
Vendredi 04 Mai, 11h, Salle des séminaires (215), 2ème étage, Bâtiment A4N
Abstract :
One of the most challenging problems in condensed matter physics is the nature of the glass and the glass transition. Despite decades of experimental and theoretical research, a detailed description remains elusive. I will describe general features of glass forming materials, the questions brought up, and the ideas that have been put forward to understand them. I will then discuss the development of an experimental research plan involving polymer glasses developed to shed light on some of these questions. Such experiments include size dependent effects on glass formation, the nature of the free surface of glasses and how that affects glass formation, and how polymeric glasses may differ from small molecule glasses.