Year: 1978
Type: article
Abstract: The consequences of a theory of dislocation-mediated two-dimensional melting are worked out for triangular lattices. Dissociation of dislocation pairs first drives a transition into a "liquid crystal" phase with exponential decay of translational order, but power-law decay of sixfold orientational order. A subsequent dissociation of disclination pairs at a higher temperature then produces an isotropic fluid. The critical behavior, as well as the effect of a periodic substrate, is discussed.
Source: Physical Review Letters
Authors: B. I. Halperin, David R. Nelson
Institution: Harvard University
Language: English
Subfield: Condensed Matter Physics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2061399145