Observing one-step melting pathway in two-dimensional hard circular particle system

Summary: The nature of two-dimensional melting remains a matter of debate. Based on Langevin dynamics simulation, we present a surprising observation that the melting pathway of hard circular-particles/disks is relevant to the dynamical properties of particles. Using hard circular-particles/disks, w...

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Main Authors: Yanwen Zhu, Shenhua Jiang, Jieli Wang, Xin Song, Xing Huang, Bin Zheng, Linli He, Shigeyuki Komura, Zhanglin Hou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-08-01
Series:iScience
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004225013689
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author Yanwen Zhu
Shenhua Jiang
Jieli Wang
Xin Song
Xing Huang
Bin Zheng
Linli He
Shigeyuki Komura
Zhanglin Hou
author_facet Yanwen Zhu
Shenhua Jiang
Jieli Wang
Xin Song
Xing Huang
Bin Zheng
Linli He
Shigeyuki Komura
Zhanglin Hou
author_sort Yanwen Zhu
collection DOAJ
description Summary: The nature of two-dimensional melting remains a matter of debate. Based on Langevin dynamics simulation, we present a surprising observation that the melting pathway of hard circular-particles/disks is relevant to the dynamical properties of particles. Using hard circular-particles/disks, where particle friction is proportional to particle size, results show the melting pathway of small size particles obeys two-step scenario, consistent with previous reports on melting behavior of hard disks. Conversely, in large size particle systems, we observe a one-step melting pathway. Further investigation reveals that the emergent one-step melting pathway is non-equilibrium phase transition that relates to cooperative relaxation of cage dynamics. This originates from the particularly stable/stiff configuration in large size particle system, which is a metastable state arrested by changed dynamics of particles, thus inducing a non-equilibrium melting pathway that distinguishes from the equilibrium melting behavior. Our findings shed light on the debate on melting behavior of hard disks.
format Article
id doaj-art-ca2ea1f114174b3f8bf973fd9a62af36
institution Kabale University
issn 2589-0042
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series iScience
spelling doaj-art-ca2ea1f114174b3f8bf973fd9a62af362025-08-20T03:56:04ZengElsevieriScience2589-00422025-08-0128811310710.1016/j.isci.2025.113107Observing one-step melting pathway in two-dimensional hard circular particle systemYanwen Zhu0Shenhua Jiang1Jieli Wang2Xin Song3Xing Huang4Bin Zheng5Linli He6Shigeyuki Komura7Zhanglin Hou8Department of Physics, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China; Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325001, ChinaDepartment of Physics, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China; Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325001, ChinaWenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325001, ChinaDepartment of Physics, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China; Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325001, ChinaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou 310015, ChinaWenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325001, ChinaDepartment of Physics, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China; Corresponding authorWenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325001, China; OuJiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health), Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, China; Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan; Corresponding authorWenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325001, China; OuJiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health), Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, China; Corresponding authorSummary: The nature of two-dimensional melting remains a matter of debate. Based on Langevin dynamics simulation, we present a surprising observation that the melting pathway of hard circular-particles/disks is relevant to the dynamical properties of particles. Using hard circular-particles/disks, where particle friction is proportional to particle size, results show the melting pathway of small size particles obeys two-step scenario, consistent with previous reports on melting behavior of hard disks. Conversely, in large size particle systems, we observe a one-step melting pathway. Further investigation reveals that the emergent one-step melting pathway is non-equilibrium phase transition that relates to cooperative relaxation of cage dynamics. This originates from the particularly stable/stiff configuration in large size particle system, which is a metastable state arrested by changed dynamics of particles, thus inducing a non-equilibrium melting pathway that distinguishes from the equilibrium melting behavior. Our findings shed light on the debate on melting behavior of hard disks.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004225013689condensed matter physics
spellingShingle Yanwen Zhu
Shenhua Jiang
Jieli Wang
Xin Song
Xing Huang
Bin Zheng
Linli He
Shigeyuki Komura
Zhanglin Hou
Observing one-step melting pathway in two-dimensional hard circular particle system
iScience
condensed matter physics
title Observing one-step melting pathway in two-dimensional hard circular particle system
title_full Observing one-step melting pathway in two-dimensional hard circular particle system
title_fullStr Observing one-step melting pathway in two-dimensional hard circular particle system
title_full_unstemmed Observing one-step melting pathway in two-dimensional hard circular particle system
title_short Observing one-step melting pathway in two-dimensional hard circular particle system
title_sort observing one step melting pathway in two dimensional hard circular particle system
topic condensed matter physics
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004225013689
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