Importance of Experiments That Can Test Theories Critically

General dynamic and thermodynamic properties of complex materials, including amorphous polymers and molecular glass-formers, have been established from the wealth of experimental data accumulated over the years. Naturally, these general properties attract researchers to construct theories and models to address and explain them. Often more than one theory with contrasting or even conflicting theoretical bases can equally explain a general property rather well. The correct explanation becomes unclear, and progress is stopped. The resolution of the problem comes when an innovative experiment is performed with insightful results that can critically test the premise and assumptions of each theory. This important role played by experimentalists is exemplified by the contributions of Mark Ediger in several general properties considered in this paper: (1) dynamics of the components in binary polymer blends; (2) breakdown of the Stokes-Einstein and the Debye-Stokes-Einstein relations; (3) enhancement of surface mobility and in relation to formation of ultrastable glasses; and (4) the Johari-Goldstein β-relaxation in ultrastable glasses. Different theories proposed to explain these properties are discussed, including the Coupling Model of the author.