Physics – Condensed Matter – Soft Condensed Matter
Scientific paper
2011-11-18
Physics
Condensed Matter
Soft Condensed Matter
Scientific paper
The phase diagram of colloidal hard superballs, of which the shape interpolates between cubes and octahedra via spheres, is determined by free-energy calculations in Monte Carlo simulations. We discover not only a stable face-centered cubic (fcc) plastic crystal phase for near-spherical particles, but also a stable body-centered cubic (bcc) plastic crystal close to the octahedron shape, and in fact even coexistence of these two plastic crystals with a substantial density gap. The plastic fcc and bcc crystals are, however, unstable in the cube and octahedron limit, suggesting that the rounded corners of superballs play an important role in stablizing the rotator phases. In addition, we observe a two-step melting phenomenon for hard octahedra, in which the Minkowski crystal melts into a metastable bcc plastic crystal before melting into the fluid phase.
Dijkstra Marjolein
Gantapara Anjan Prasad
Graaf Joost de
Ni Ran
Roij René van
No associations
LandOfFree
Phase diagram of colloidal hard superballs: from cubes via spheres to octahedra does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Phase diagram of colloidal hard superballs: from cubes via spheres to octahedra, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Phase diagram of colloidal hard superballs: from cubes via spheres to octahedra will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-549495