Glass transition as a topological phase transition

Abstract

The glass transition is considered as a phase transition in the system of topologically protected excitations in matter structure. The critical behavior of the system is considered both in statics and dynamics cases. It is shown in the simple model describing the topological defects system in the elastic medium with non-zero shear modulus, most of characteristic thermodynamic and kinetic properties of glass transition are reproduced: the Vogel--Fulcher--Tammann law; the behavior of susceptibility, and non-linear susceptibilities; heat capacity behavior; and boson peak near the glass transition temperature.