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Evidence for the Collective Nature of the Glass Transition

Self- and cross-correlation dynamics of deeply supercooled liquids were recently identified using photon correlation spectroscopy and spin relaxometry on the one hand, and using dielectric investigations on the other. These results fueled a controversial discussion whether the "generic" response identified by the former techniques or rather the non-universal dielectric response reflect the liquid's structural relaxation. The present study employs physical aging and oscillatory shear rheology to directly access the structural relaxation of a non-associating glass forming liquid and reveals that collective equilibrium fluctuations of simple liquids and not single-particle dynamics govern their structural relaxation.