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Updated: Mar 16, 2026

Spatial Separation of Molecular Conformers and Clusters
Published on: January 9, 2014
Two-dimensional systems with competing interactions: dynamic properties of single particles and of clusters
Dieter F Schwanzer1, Daniele Coslovich, Gerhard Kahl
1Institute of Theoretical Physics and Center for Computational Materials Science (CMS), TU Wien, Wiedner Hauptstraße 8-10, A-1040 Wien, Austria.
Abstract:
Systems with short-range attractive and long-range repulsive interactions are able to form mesophases at sufficiently low temperatures. In two dimensions, such mesophases emerge as clusters, stripes or bubbles. Using extensive Monte Carlo simulations we investigate the static and the dynamic properties of such a cluster-forming system over a broad temperature range and for different densities. Via the static properties we analyse how ordering into close packed configurations sets in both at the level of the particles as well as at the level of the clusters. The dynamic properties provide information on how, at low temperature, the motion of individual particles is influenced by the dynamic slowing down of the clusters. Finally, we discuss the different diffusion mechanisms at play at low and intermediate densities.
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