Relaxation dynamics and their spatial distribution in a two-dimensional glass-forming mixture

Molecular dynamics simulations are used to explore the spatial fluctuations associated with structural relaxation and particle transport in a supercooled binary mixture in two dimensions. The study includes (i) the characterization of heterogeneities in the local particle dynamics in terms of their length scale and lifetime, (ii) the relationship between local kinetics and local structure/composition, and (iii) preliminary identification of the principal collective motions involved in the long-time relaxation of the supercooled liquid. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-9606(99)50635-1].