Melting of Two-Dimensional Solids

Recent theoretical predictions indicate that melting of a two-dimensional solid may be caused by spontaneous creation of dislocations. The theory predicts that melting occurs by a two-step process involving an intermediate phase, called the hexatic phase, in which there is order in the local crystal...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 1982-08, Vol.217 (4561), p.693-700
Main Authors: Brinkman, W. F., Fisher, Daniel S., Moncton, D. E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Atoms
Chemistry, Physical and theoretical
Crystal lattices
Crystals
Electrons
Liquid crystals
Liquids
Melting
Phase transitions
Physical chemistry
Power laws
Solid state chemistry
Solids
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Recent theoretical predictions indicate that melting of a two-dimensional solid may be caused by spontaneous creation of dislocations. The theory predicts that melting occurs by a two-step process involving an intermediate phase, called the hexatic phase, in which there is order in the local crystalline axes but not in the positions of atoms. These ideas are being tested by numerical simulations and by experiments on electrons on liquid helium, liquid crystal films, and rare gas layers adsorbed on graphite. Experiments on liquid crystal films indicate that the three-dimensional analog of the hexatic phase exists, and xenon on graphite exhibits a melting transition close to the form predicted.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.217.4561.693