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
g.gompper@fz-juelich.de
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
-
61.72.Bb Theories and models of crystal defects
-
64.70.Dv Solid-liquid transitions
Copyright EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag
