Defect-unbinding transitions and inherent structures in two dimensions
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-1200 (United States)
- Solid State Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831 (United States)
- Computer Science and Mathematics Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831 (United States)
We present a large-scale (36thinsp000-particle) computational study of the {open_quotes}inherent structures{close_quotes} (IS) associated with equilibrium, two-dimensional, one-component Lennard-Jones systems. Our results provide strong support both for the inherent-structures theory of classical fluids, and for the Kosterlitz-Thouless-Halperin-Nelson-Young theory of two-stage melting in two dimensions. This support comes from the observation of {ital three} qualitatively distinct {open_quotes}phases{close_quotes} of inherent structures: a crystal, a {open_quotes}hexatic glass,{close_quotes} and a {open_quotes}liquid glass.{close_quotes} We also directly observe, in the IS, analogs of the two defect-unbinding transitions (respectively, of dislocations and disclinations) believed to mediate the two equilibrium phase transitions. Each transition shows up in the inherent structures, although the free disclinations in the {open_quotes}liquid glass{close_quotes} are embedded in a percolating network of grain boundaries. The bond-orientational correlation functions of the inherent structures show the same progressive loss of order as do the three equilibrium phases: long-range {r_arrow} quasi-long-range {r_arrow} short-range. {copyright} {ital 1998} {ital The American Physical Society}
- OSTI ID:
- 664698
- Journal Information:
- Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics, Journal Name: Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 58; ISSN PLEEE8; ISSN 1063-651X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Evidence of hexatic phase formation in two-dimensional Lennard-Jones binary arrays
Melting in Two-Dimensional Lennard-Jones Systems: Observation of a Metastable Hexatic Phase