Revealing bond level origin of stability in disordered solids from marginal stability to ultrastability (opens in new tab)

Disordered solids can be prepared with a vast spectrum of stabilities, ranging from marginally stable to ultra-stable. While understanding the structural origin of stability is crucial for predicting mechanical failure, as well as for revealing the nature and manipulating the properties of disordered solids, structural disorder poses a significant obstacle. Here, we propose and identify stabilizing bonds—interactions between particles whose removal would trigger mechanical failure—as a key mi...