Eur. Phys. J. E 1, 153-157
Melting transition of a network model in two dimensions
G. Gompper1,2 - D.M. Kroll3
1 Max-Planck-Institut für Kolloid- und Grenzflächenforschung,
Am Mühlenberg, Haus 2, 14476 Golm, Germany
2 Institut für Festkörperforschung, Forschungszentrum Jülich,
52425 Jülich, Germany
3 Department of Medicinal Chemistry and
Minnesota Supercomputer Institute,
University of Minnesota,
308 Harvard Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Received 4 June 1999 and Revised in final form 1 September 1999
Abstract
The freezing transition of a network model for tensionless membranes
confined to two dimensions is investigated by Monte Carlo simulations
and scaling arguments. In this model, a freezing transition is
induced by reducing the tether length. Translational and
bond-orientational order parameters and elastic
constants are determined as a function of the tether length. A
finite-size scaling analysis is used to show that the crystal melts
via successive dislocation and disclination unbinding transitions, in
qualitative agreement with the predictions of the
Kosterlitz-Thouless-Halperin-Nelson-Young theory. The hexatic phase
is found to be stable over only a very small interval of tether
lengths.
PACS
61.20.Ja Computer simulation of liquid structure
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61.72.Bb Theories and models of crystal defects
-
64.70.Dv Solid-liquid transitions
Copyright EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag
