Force Distributions near Jamming and Glass Transitions

Abstract

We calculate the distribution of interparticle normal forces $P\left(F\right)$ near the glass and jamming transitions in model supercooled liquids and foams, respectively. $P\left(F\right)$ develops a peak that appears near the glass or jamming transitions, whose height increases with decreasing temperature, decreasing shear stress and increasing packing density. A similar shape of $P\left(F\right)$ was observed in experiments on static granular packings. We propose that the appearance of this peak signals the development of a yield stress. The sensitivity of the peak to temperature, shear stress, and density lends credence to the recently proposed generalized jamming phase diagram.