Translational and orientational glass transitions in the large-dimensional limit : a generalized replicated liquid theory and an application to patchy colloids

We developed a generalized replicated liquid theory for glassy phases of non-spherical uniaxial molecules and colloids, which becomes exact in the large dimensional limit $d\to\infty$. We then applied the scheme to patchy colloids with sticky patches at their heads and tails. The system exhibits rich phase behaviors involving the translational and orientational degrees of freedom. We found a novel glass-glass transition between glasses with large/small orientational fluctuations.