Metastability and crystallization in hard-sphere systems

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 φ_c. 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 \(φ_c-φ\)-γ, where γ = 1 and φ_c = 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.