Non-equilibrium mode-coupling theory for supercooled liquids and glasses

A formally exact set of equations is derived for the description of nonequilibrium phenomena in classical liquids and glasses. With the help of a non equilibrium projection operator formalism, the correlation functions and fluctuation propagators are expressed in terms of memory functions and time dependent collective frequencies. This formally exact set of equations is approximated by applying mode coupling approximations to the memory functions. The resulting set of equations for wavevector dependent correlation functions, fluctuation propagators and one time structure factors S q (t) generalizes the well known mode coupling theory of the glass transition (MCT) to situations far away from equilibrium. I. INTRODUCTION The mode coupling theory of the glass transition is based on the experimental and theoretical understanding of dense liquids. Although approximative in nature, mode coupling theories were quite successful to describe the dynamics of dense liquids close to the triple poin...