TY - JOUR
T1 - Metastability and crystallization in hard-sphere systems
AU - Rintoul, M. D.
AU - Torquato, S.
PY - 1996
Y1 - 1996
N2 - We present results of large-scale molecular dynamics simulations of hard sphere systems at values of the volume fraction φ along the disordered, metastable branch of the phase diagram up to random close-packing φc. By quantifying the degree of local order, we determine the necessary conditions to obtain a truly random system, enabling us to compute the pressure carefully along the entire metastable branch. Near fc we show that the pressure scales as \(φc-φ\)-γ, where γ = 1 and φc = 0.644+/-0.005. Contrary to previous studies, we find no evidence of a thermodynamic glass transition and find that after long times the system crystallizes for all φ above the melting point.
AB - We present results of large-scale molecular dynamics simulations of hard sphere systems at values of the volume fraction φ along the disordered, metastable branch of the phase diagram up to random close-packing φc. By quantifying the degree of local order, we determine the necessary conditions to obtain a truly random system, enabling us to compute the pressure carefully along the entire metastable branch. Near fc we show that the pressure scales as \(φc-φ\)-γ, where γ = 1 and φc = 0.644+/-0.005. Contrary to previous studies, we find no evidence of a thermodynamic glass transition and find that after long times the system crystallizes for all φ above the melting point.
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U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevLett.77.4198
DO - 10.1103/PhysRevLett.77.4198
M3 - Article
C2 - 10062473
AN - SCOPUS:0030284903
SN - 0031-9007
VL - 77
SP - 4198
EP - 4201
JO - Physical review letters
JF - Physical review letters
IS - 20
ER -