Renormalization group study of the melting of a two-dimensional system of collapsing hard disks

We consider the melting of a two-dimensional system of collapsing hard disks (a system with a hard-disk potential to which a repulsive step is added) for different values of the repulsive-step width. We calculate the system phase diagram by the method of the density functional in crystallization theory using equations of the Berezinskii–Kosterlitz–Thouless–Halperin–Nelson–Young theory to determine the lines of stability with respect to the dissociation of dislocation pairs, which corresponds to the continuous transition from the solid to the hexatic phase. We show that the crystal phase can melt via a continuous transition at low densities (the transition to the hexatic phase) with a subsequent transition from the hexatic phase to the isotropic liquid and via a first-order transition. Using the solution of renormalization group equations with the presence of singular defects (dislocations) in the system taken into account, we consider the influence of the renormalization of the elastic moduli on the form of the phase diagram.     

Pressure-induced structural transformation in radiation-amorphized zircon

We study the response of a radiation-amorphized material to high pressure. We have used zircon ZrSiO4 amorphized by natural radiation over geologic times, and have measured its volume under high pressure, using the precise strain-gauge technique. On pressure increase, we observe apparent softening of the material, starting from 4 GPa. Using molecular dynamics simulation, we associate this softening with the amorphous-amorphous transformation accompanied by the increase of local coordination numbers. We observe permanent densification of the quenched sample and a nontrivial "pressure window" at high temperature. These features point to a new class of amorphous materials that show a response to pressure which is distinctly different from that of crystals.     

High-Pressure phase diagram of LiInSe2

Abstract

The phase diagram of LiInSe₂ is investigated by electrical and x-ray measurements. The transition from the cubic high pressure phase to the α-NaFeO₂ structure upon heating is followed by a second transition to the CuFeS₂ structure.     

Investigation of polyamorphism in compressed B<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> glass by the direct measurement of the density

Precise measurements of the relative volume change of vitreous B₂O₃ have been performed by the strain-gauge technique at hydrostatic pressures up to 9 GPa. The features of the strain-gauge technique are analyzed and the specificity of the measurements of “relaxed” and “unrelaxed” bulk moduli is discussed. Smeared anomalies of compressibility (at P > 0.5 GPa and P > 5 GPa) and logarithmic relaxation of the glass density are observed. A significant (by several times!) difference has been revealed between the relaxed bulk modulus of glass obtained from the volume measurements and the unrelaxed modulus estimated from the Brillouin spectroscopic data. The measurements of the relative volume change under compression together with the previous structure investigations and computer simulation results reveal the basic features of the phase transitions in B₂O₃ glass. Both direct and reverse transitions are smeared in pressure. The residual densification in glass is not associated with change in the short-range order.     

High-precision measurements of the compressibility of chalcogenide glasses at a hydrostatic pressure up to 9 GPa

The volumes of glassy germanium chalcogenides GeSe₂, GeS₂, Ge₁₇Se₈₃, and Ge₈Se₉₂ are precisely measured at a hydrostatic pressure up to 8.5 GPa. The stoichiometric GeSe₂ and GeS₂ glasses exhibit elastic behavior in the pressure range up to 3 GPa, and their bulk modulus decreases at pressures higher than 2–2.5 GPa. At higher pressures, inelastic relaxation processes begin and their intensity is proportional to the logarithm of time. The relaxation rate for the GeSe₂ glasses has a pronounced maximum at 3.5–4.5 GPa, which indicates the existence of several parallel structural transformation mechanisms. The nonstoichiometric glasses exhibit a diffuse transformation and inelastic behavior at pressures above 1–2 GPa. The maximum relaxation rate in these glasses is significantly lower than that in the stoichiometric GeSe₂ glasses. All glasses are characterized by the “loss of memory” of history: after relaxation at a fixed pressure, the further increase in the pressure returns the volume to the compression curve obtained without a stop for relaxation. After pressure release, the residual densification in the stoichiometric glasses is about 7% and that in the Ge₁₇Se₈₃ glasses is 1.5%. The volume of the Ge₈Se₉₂ glass returns to its initial value within the limits of experimental error. As the pressure decreases, the effective bulk moduli of the Ge₁₇Se₈₃ and Ge₈Se₉₂ glasses coincide with the moduli after isobaric relaxation at the stage of increasing pressure, and the bulk modulus of the stoichiometric GeSe₂ glass upon decreasing pressure noticeably exceeds the bulk modulus after isobaric relaxation at the stage of increasing pressure. Along with the reported data, our results can be used to draw conclusions regarding the diffuse transformations in glassy germanium chalcogenides during compression.     

Inversion of sequence of anomalies in core-softened systems with attraction

In this paper we present a simulation study of water-like anomalies in a purely repulsive core-softened system and in a system with attraction described in our previous publications. We investigate the anomalous regions for systems with the same functional form of the potentials but with different parameters and show that the order of the region of anomalous diffusion and the region of density anomaly is inverted with increasing the width of the repulsive shoulder and the depth of the attractive well. It is shown that while the density anomaly is always inside the region of the structural anomaly, the diffusion anomaly can change its location depending on the parameters of the potential. In the presence of the attraction in the potential, the system demonstrates the silica-like behavior.     

The behaviour of water and sodium chloride solution confined into asbestos nanotube

We present the molecular simulation study of the behaviour of water and sodium chloride solution confined in lizardite asbestos nanotube which is a typical example of hydrophilic confinement. The local structure and orientational and dynamic properties are studied. It is shown that at low enough temperatures there is a well-defined orientational ordering of the water molecules. At high local densities corresponding to the maxima of the density distribution function, the water molecules are oriented parallel to the axis of the tube. It is also shown that the diffusion coefficient drops about two orders of magnitude comparing to the bulk case. The behaviour of sodium chloride solutions is also considered and the formation of double layer is observed.     

Measurements of compressibility of solids and powder compacts by a strain gauge technique at hydrostatic pressure up to 9GPa

Abstract

An experimental technique is described which enables one to measure the pressure-volume (P-V) relationship of solids and powder compacts and the linear compressibility of anisotropic single crystals by means of the resistive strain gauges at hydrostatic pressure up to 9 GPa. The potential of this technique is demostrated for solids possessing pressure induced phase transitions (PbTe, SmSe) and anisotropic crystals (Sb). For the first time P-V relationship is measured for highly compressible powder compact at increase and decrease of pressure.     

High-Precision Studies of the Compressibility and Relaxation of g-As2S3 Glasses at High Hydrostatic Pressures up to 8.6 GPa

Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics - The high-precision volume measurements of the g-As2S3 glass have been performed at high hydrostatic pressures up to 8.6 GPa, and room temperature....