Rapid Entropy Drop, Kauzmann Catastrophe, and an Apparent Mode-Coupling Transition in Polymers: An Exact Model Calculation on a Husimi Cactus

P. D. Gujrati; Andrea Corsi

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.87.025701

Rapid Entropy Drop, Kauzmann Catastrophe, and an Apparent Mode-Coupling Transition in Polymers: An Exact Model Calculation on a Husimi Cactus

P. D. Gujrati and Andrea Corsi

Phys. Rev. Lett. 87, 025701 – Published 22 June 2001

Abstract

We identify the mechanism behind a rapid entropy drop in the metastable (ML) polymer liquid and clarify the significance of the Kauzmann paradox. We also establish a thermodynamic basis for an apparent critical mode-coupling transition between supercooled (SCL) and ML polymer liquids, and for the ideal glass transition but only in ML. The latter need not ever form an equilibrium phase. The crystal can have higher entropy than ML or SCL polymer liquids.