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) AsxSe100−x glasses with 0≤x≤40. The activation energy of the glass transition (Ea) of the aged and rejuvenated glasses was determined from the variation of the glass transition temperature (Tg) with the heating rates (β). Significant effect of prolonged aging of the glasses on the values Ea 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 Tg for aged and rejuvenated data was analyzed using the stochastic agglomeration theory.