9615212 Das Description: This is a U.S.-India research collaboration entitled Metastable State Dynamics for Hard Spheres. The project is under the direction of James W. Dufty, University of Florida and Shankar P. Das, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. The investigators will study the long-standing problem of describing glass formation and the properties of glasses. Their objectives are to identify qualitative mechanisms responsible for very slow dynamics and to develop practical methods for quantitative analysis. They will limit their study to the idealized hard sphere system in order to take advantage of recent developments which permit accurate theoretical analyses of the dynamics in both dense fluid and crystal phases, not available for any other atomic or molecular systems. These prototype studies will address some of the most basic questions relevant to glass formation and their properties. Glasses and related composites play an essential role in the development of new materials in a wide range of applications. Scope: This collaboration is driven by the research interests of two highly competent investigators who have worked together on closely related research for the past six years. The unique approach they have developed for solving a significant problem has excellent potential for scientific breakthrough. The support requested is primarily for travel and per diem. Postdocs and graduate students involved in the program will be supported by their respective institutions. ***
