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I will review a theory of amorphous packings of hard spheres based on
the assumption that these packings are the infinite pressure limit of
long-lived metastable glassy states. Technically, the theory makes use
of the replica method and of standard liquid theory; it gives
predictions on both the structure and the thermodynamics of amorphous
states. In dimensions between two and six these predictions can be
successfully compared with numerical simulations. I will finally
discuss the limit of large dimension, that is relevant for information
theory problems, where an exact solution is possible. Ref: G.Parisi and F.Zamponi, J.Chem.Phys. 123, 144504 (2005); arXiv:0802.2180 (to appear on Rev.Mod.Phys.) |
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