Phase transitions at the early stages of surface melting

We show that the early stage of surface melting can be associated with a well defined phase transition, of the pre-roughening type. The problem is modeled by simulating the surface as an interface in the three-dimensional large N-state lattice Potts model, which is shown to exhibit pre-roughening, r...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Surface science 2000-05, Vol.454, p.608-612
Main Authors: Jagla, E.A., Prestipino, S., Tosatti, E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Equilibrium thermodynamics and statistical mechanics
Monte Carlo simulations
Solid–gas interfaces
Surface melting
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Summary:We show that the early stage of surface melting can be associated with a well defined phase transition, of the pre-roughening type. The problem is modeled by simulating the surface as an interface in the three-dimensional large N-state lattice Potts model, which is shown to exhibit pre-roughening, roughening, and a lattice version of surface melting. The lowest transition is pre-roughening, but it is in fact linked to the appearance of liquid-like signatures in the first surface layer, and thus represents the phase transition where surface melting starts. We suggest that this physics is realized on rare-gas-solid (111) surfaces and possibly also on other semiconductor and metal surfaces.
ISSN:0039-6028
1879-2758
DOI:10.1016/S0039-6028(00)00142-4