Structural relaxation and rigidity transition in aged and rejuvenated AsxSe100−x glasses

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements were performed to investigate the kinetics of the structural relaxation in aged and unaged (rejuvenated) As_xSe_100−x glasses with 0≤x≤40. The activation energy of the glass transition (E_a) of the aged and rejuvenated glasses was determined from the variation of the glass transition temperature (T_g) with the heating rates (β). Significant effect of prolonged aging of the glasses on the values E_a was observed. Evidence of transition from floppy to rigid phase is presented. The observed significant physical aging in samples with composition x<40 indicates the absence of the intermediate phase. The compositional dependence of T_g for aged and rejuvenated data was analyzed using the stochastic agglomeration theory.