Numerical and atomistic models for predicting structural relaxation in glasses

Abstract

From optical fiber to high-tech displays, glass relaxation plays a critical role. Due to the non-equilibrium nature of glass, there is a constant evolution associated with relaxation that influences manufacturing and properties. Despite the importance of glass relaxation, it remains a challenge to understand and predict. Models to predict the behavior of glass relaxation have been proposed for more than 80 years and have become increasingly more accurate at the cost of simplicity. These models have also been influenced by the models that have come before them. In this article, we review the history of glass relaxation models and how they connect to modern computational approaches and discuss the remaining challenges of glass relaxation modeling.