Rapid entropy drop, Kauzmann catastrophe, and an apparent mode-coupling transition in polymers: An exact model calculation on a Husimi cactus - art. no. 025701

We identify the mechanism behind a rapid entropy drop in the metastable (ML ) polymer liquid and clarify the significance of the Kauzmann paradox. We a lso establish a thermodynamic basis for an apparent critical mode-coupling transition between supercooled (SCL) and ML polymer liquids, and for the id eal glass transition but only in ML. The latter need not ever form an equil ibrium phase. The crystal can have higher entropy than ML or SCL polymer li quids.