Some new consequences of the order parameter description of glassy states

By extending the classical order parameter theory of glassy states to the case of inhomogeneous glassy states, some new consequences of the theory are derived. It is shown that the phase boundaries, critical points, and the kinetics of phase transition differ in the annealed and the quenched states. For example, the critical point of phase separation is always suppressed in the quenched states. Cahn's analysis of elastic energy effects is shown to be a special case of the present formalism.