Aging Dynamics of a Fractal Model Gel

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dc.creatorSuarez, M-A.
dc.creatorKern, N.
dc.creatorPitard, E.
dc.creatorKob, W.
dc.date2008-12-18
dc.date.accessioned2026-07-07T12:20:20Z
dc.date.available2026-07-07T12:20:20Z
dc.descriptionUsing molecular dynamics computer simulations we investigate the aging dynamics of a gel. We start from a fractal structure generated by the DLCA-DEF algorithm, onto which we then impose an interaction potential consisting of a short-range attraction as well as a long-range repulsion. After relaxing the system at T=0, we let it evolve at a fixed finite temperature. Depending on the temperature T we find different scenarios for the aging behavior. For T>0.2 the fractal structure is unstable and breaks up into small clusters which relax to equilibrium. For T<0.2 the structure is stable and the dynamics slows down with increasing waiting time. At intermediate and low T the mean squared displacement scales as t^{2/3} and we discuss several mechanisms for this anomalous time dependence. For intermediate T, the self-intermediate scattering function is given by a compressed exponential at small wave-vectors and by a stretched exponential at large wave-vectors. In contrast, for low T it is a stretched exponential for all wave-vectors. This behavior can be traced back to a subtle interplay between elastic rearrangements, fluctuations of chain-like filaments, and heterogeneity.
dc.description30 pages, 25 figures
dc.identifierhttps://arxiv.org/abs/0812.3559
dc.identifierhttp://arxiv.org/abs/0812.3559
dc.identifier.urihttp://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/213037
dc.subjectSoft Condensed Matter
dc.subjectDisordered Systems and Neural Networks
dc.titleAging Dynamics of a Fractal Model Gel
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