Universal Density of Low Frequency States in Amorphous Solids at Finite Temperatures

Abstract: It has been established that the low frequency quasi-localized modes of amorphous solids at zero temperature exhibit universal density of states, depending on the frequencies as $D(\omega) \sim \omega^4$. It remains an open question whether this universal law extends to finite temperatures. In this Letter we show that well quenched model glasses at temperatures as high as $T_g/3$ possess the same universal density of states. The only condition required is that {\em average} particle positions stabilize before thermal diffusion destroys the cage structure of the material. The universal density of quasi-localized low frequency modes refers then to vibrations around the thermally averaged configuration of the material.