Jamming as a topological satisfiability transition with contact number hyperuniformity and criticality

The jamming transition between flow and amorphous-solid states exhibits paradoxical properties characterized by hyperuniformity (suppressed spatial fluctuations) and criticality (hyperfluctuations), whose origin remains unclear. Here, we model the jamming transition by a topological satisfiability transition in a minimum network model with simultaneously hyperuniform distributions of contacts, diverging length scales and scale-free clusters. We show that these phenomena stem from isostaticity and mechanical stability: The former imposes a global equality, and the latter local inequalities on arbitrary subsystems. This dual constraint bounds contact number fluctuations from both above and below, limiting them to scale with the surface area. The hyperuniform and critical exponents of the network model align with those of frictionless jamming, suggesting a universality class of nonequilibrium phase transitions. Our results provide a minimal, dynamics-independent framework for jamming criticality and hyperuniformity in disordered systems.

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Publication Details

Journal
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Published
2026-03-31
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2517241123
Primary Topic
Theoretical and Computational Physics
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Jamming as a topological satisfiability transition with contact number hyperuniformity and criticality

Yinqiao Wang, Jin Shang
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Theoretical and Computational Physics
article

Jamming as a topological satisfiability transition with contact number hyperuniformity and criticality

Yinqiao Wang, Jin Shang
article en

Abstract

The jamming transition between flow and amorphous-solid states exhibits paradoxical properties characterized by hyperuniformity (suppressed spatial fluctuations) and criticality (hyperfluctuations), whose origin remains unclear. Here, we model the jamming transition by a topological satisfiability transition in a minimum network model with simultaneously hyperuniform distributions of contacts, diverging length scales and scale-free clusters. We show that these phenomena stem from isostaticity and mechanical stability: The former imposes a global equality, and the latter local inequalities on arbitrary subsystems. This dual constraint bounds contact number fluctuations from both above and below, limiting them to scale with the surface area. The hyperuniform and critical exponents of the network model align with those of frictionless jamming, suggesting a universality class of nonequilibrium phase transitions. Our results provide a minimal, dynamics-independent framework for jamming criticality and hyperuniformity in disordered systems.

Proceedings of the National Academy of SciencesVol. 123(14)
Shanghai Jiao Tong University (CN), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN), Institute of Theoretical Physics (CN), Institute of Natural Science (KP), University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN), Zhejiang University (CN)
National Natural Science Foundation of China, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai Municipal Education Commission, Wenzhou Institute of Biomaterials and Engineering
Reduced inequalities, Peace, Justice and strong institutions
Openalex Percentile: Top 23%
Theoretical and Computational Physics
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Jamming as a topological satisfiability transition with contact number hyperuniformity and criticality — Yinqiao Wang, Jin Shang · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS