| Abstract: | Recently it has become possible to make a series of simulations on a supercomputer of the molecular motion of a pentacontane (C50H102) crystal containing close to 10000 atoms. Such a crystal is big enough to serve as a model of a macroscopic crystal. It can also serve as a model for polyethylene. The large volume of detailed information on the structure and motion permits a new level of understanding. Information on crystal appearance, pseudo-symmetric crystal structures, picosecond time-scale formation of conformational defects and the beginning of the melting process is presented. |
