  We review in this paper the signatures of a new elastic phase that is found
in glasses with selected compositions. It is shown that in contrast with random
networks, where rigidity percolates at a single threshold, networks that are
able to self-organize to avoid stress will remain in an almost stress- free
state during a compositional interval, an intermediate phase, that is bounded
by a flexible phase and a stressed rigid phase. We report the experimental
signatures and describe the theoretical efforts that have been accomplished to
characterize the intermediate phase. We illustrate one of the methods used in
more detail with the example of Group III chalcogenides and finally suggest
further possible experimental signatures of self-organization.
