Theory for the single-particle dynamics in glassy mixtures with particle size swaps

Abstract

We present a theory for the single-particle dynamics in binary mixtures with particle size swaps. The general structure of the theory follows that of the theory for the collective dynamics in binary mixtures with particle size swaps, which we developed previously [G. Szamel, Phys. Rev. E 98, 050601(R) (2018)]. Particle size swaps open up an additional relaxation channel, which speeds up both the collective dynamics and the single-particle dynamics. To make explicit predictions, we resort to a factorization approximation similar to that employed in the mode-coupling theory of glassy dynamics. We show that, like in the standard mode-coupling theory, the single-particle motion becomes arrested at the dynamic glass transition predicted by the theory for the collective dynamics. We compare the non-ergodicity parameters predicted by our mode-coupling-like approach for the an equimolar binary hard sphere mixture with particle size swaps with the non-ergodicity parameters predicted by the standard mode-coupling theory for the same system without swaps. Our theory predicts that the "cage size" is bigger in the system with particle size swaps.