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Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Methods of Ex Situ and In Situ Investigations of Structural Transformations: The Case of Crystallization of Metallic Glasses
Published on: June 7, 2018
Reentrant and isostructural transitions in a cluster-crystal former
Kai Zhang1, Patrick Charbonneau, Bianca M Mladek
1Department of Chemistry, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA.
This study reveals a hybrid phase diagram in a cluster-crystal system, featuring reentrant phase sequences and unique transitions. The system exhibits unusual softening upon compression due to lattice site annihilation and clustering.
Area of Science:
- Condensed matter physics
- Computational materials science
Background:
- Understanding low-temperature behavior is crucial for materials science.
- Phase diagrams map material states under varying conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the low-temperature behavior of a simple cluster-crystal forming system.
- To characterize its unique phase diagram and transitions.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing computational simulations to model system behavior.
- Analyzing phase diagrams and structural transitions.
Main Results:
- The system exhibits a hybrid phase diagram, combining features of the Gaussian core model and penetrable sphere model.
- Observed S-shaped doubly reentrant phase sequences and critical isostructural transitions.
- Demonstrated unusual softening upon compression due to lattice site annihilation and clustering.
Conclusions:
- The studied system displays complex low-temperature behavior not fully described by existing models.
- Novel phase transitions and compression-induced softening offer new avenues for materials research.
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