Dating from experiments more than 20 years ago, it has been realized that the crystallization of hard colloidal particles in the vicinity of dynamical arrest has several anomalies, that render the conventional nucleation and growth model inappropriate. Subsequently, key researchers have shown the influence of gravity. Here we show that a simple lattice model can capture most of the phenomena associated with such systems. In particular, the model reproduces not only characteristic signatures of glass-forming systems, but also the interplay between quasi arrested dynamics and crystal nucleation.

Glass-forming liquids have been extensively studied in recent decades, but there is still no theory that fully describes these systems, and the diversity of treatments is in itself a barrier to understanding. Here we introduce a new simple model that (possessing both liquid-crystal and glass transition) unifies different approaches, producing most of the phenomena associated with real glasses, without loss of the simplicity that theorists require. Within the model we calculate energy relaxation, nonexponential slowing phenomena, the Kauzmann temperature, and other classical signatures. Moreover, the model reproduces a subdiffusive exponent observed in experiments of dense systems. The simplicity of the model allows us to identify the microscopic origin of glassification, leaving open the possibility for theorists to make further progress.

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