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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 February 2011
The so called “fast-dynamics” of glass-forming systems as observed by time of flight (TOF) neutron scattering techniques is revisited. TOF-results corresponding to several glass-forming polymers with different chemical microstructure and glass-transition temperature are presented together with the theoretical framework proposed by us to interpret these results. The main conclusion is that the TOF-data can be explained in terms of quasiharmonic vibrations and the particular short time behavior of the segmental dynamics. The segmental dynamics display in the very short time range (t ≈ 2 ps) a crossover from a simple exponential behavior towards a non-exponential regime. The first exponential decay, which is controlled by C-C rotational barriers, can be understood as a trace of the behavior of the system in absence of the effects (correlations, cooperativity, memory effects…) which characterize the dense supercooled liquid like state against the normal liquid state. The non-exponential regime at t > 2 ps corresponds to what is usually understood as α and β relaxations. Some implications of these results are also discussed.