Inhomogeneous elastic response of silica glass
  Using large scale molecular dynamics simulations we investigate the properties of the {\em non-affine} displacement field induced by macroscopic uniaxial deformation of amorphous silica,a strong glass according to Angell's classification. We demonstrate the existence of a length scale $\xi$ characterizing the correlations of this field (corresponding to a volume of about 1000 atoms), and compare its structure to the one observed in a standard fragile model glass. The "Boson-peak'' anomaly of the density of states can be traced back in both cases to elastic inhomogeneities on wavelengths smaller than $\xi$, where classical continuum elasticity becomes simply unapplicable. 
Fabien Leonforte (LPMCN), Anne Tanguy (LPMCN), Joachim Wittmer (ICS),   Jean-Louis Barrat (LPMCN)