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Shaking-induced crystallization of dense sphere packings
D P Shinde1, Anita Mehta1, G C Barker2
1Department of Theoretical Sciences, S. N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Calcutta, Calcutta 700098, India.
Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics
|October 30, 2014
Summary
Spontaneous crystallization of spheres occurs under specific vibrational shaking conditions. The study reveals a preference for face-centered cubic (fcc) ordering, with domain interfaces impacting global order.
Area of Science:
- Physics
- Materials Science
- Computational Science
Background:
- Understanding the self-assembly and crystallization of particles is crucial in materials science.
- Dynamical systems can exhibit emergent ordered structures under specific conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate spontaneous crystallization in shaken sphere systems.
- To explore the influence of vibrational amplitude on ordering and crystal structures.
Main Methods:
- Hybrid Monte Carlo algorithm simulations.
- Analysis of global and local order metrics.
- Varying vibrational amplitudes.
Main Results:
- Spontaneous crystallization observed in specific dynamical regimes.
- Crystallization outcomes depend on shaking amplitude, ranging from partial to complete order.
- Face-centered cubic (fcc) ordering predominates, with a pure fcc state achievable at optimal amplitudes.
- Interfaces between hexagonal close-packed (hcp) and fcc domains lead to a breakdown of global order.
Conclusions:
- Vibrational shaking is an effective method for inducing spontaneous crystallization in sphere systems.
- The system exhibits a preference for fcc ordering, influenced by amplitude.
- Domain interfaces act analogously to dislocations, affecting overall structural order.
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