Particle deformability stabilizes hexatic order and suppresses crystallization

Fuente: arXiv
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Autores principales: Kumar, Jatin, Zeng, Wu, Pasupalak, Anshuman, Ciamarra, Massimo Pica
Formato: Preprint
Publicado: 2025
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author Kumar, Jatin
Zeng, Wu
Pasupalak, Anshuman
Ciamarra, Massimo Pica
author_facet Kumar, Jatin
Zeng, Wu
Pasupalak, Anshuman
Ciamarra, Massimo Pica
contents We show that two-dimensional systems of deformable particles undergo a continuous liquid-hexatic transition upon compression or cooling, but no hexatic-solid transition-even at zero temperature and high density. Numerical simulations reveal that solid-like configurations do not possess a lower energy than hexatic ones, so that at low temperatures the hexatic phase is thermodynamically favored due to its higher entropy. Dislocation condensation, necessary for solid formation, is suppressed as the system accommodates strain via particle shape changes, responding affinely to compression. Our findings identify a generic route by which microscopic mechanical properties control defect energetics and reshape phase behavior in two dimensions, with broad relevance for soft and biological materials such as microgels and epithelial tissues.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2511_15195
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Particle deformability stabilizes hexatic order and suppresses crystallization
Kumar, Jatin
Zeng, Wu
Pasupalak, Anshuman
Ciamarra, Massimo Pica
Soft Condensed Matter
Statistical Mechanics
We show that two-dimensional systems of deformable particles undergo a continuous liquid-hexatic transition upon compression or cooling, but no hexatic-solid transition-even at zero temperature and high density. Numerical simulations reveal that solid-like configurations do not possess a lower energy than hexatic ones, so that at low temperatures the hexatic phase is thermodynamically favored due to its higher entropy. Dislocation condensation, necessary for solid formation, is suppressed as the system accommodates strain via particle shape changes, responding affinely to compression. Our findings identify a generic route by which microscopic mechanical properties control defect energetics and reshape phase behavior in two dimensions, with broad relevance for soft and biological materials such as microgels and epithelial tissues.
title Particle deformability stabilizes hexatic order and suppresses crystallization
topic Soft Condensed Matter
Statistical Mechanics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.15195