The Lattices
In the low temperature lattices, the FCC (alpha) and body-centered tetragonal
(gamma) lattices), the molecules are orientationally ordered at low temperatures
as shown below, and disordered at high temperatures. The HCP (beta) lattice
is orientationally disordered at all temperatures, and precesses about
the "c" crystal axis. Experimentally both the alpha and gamma lattices
are observed to become disordered as the temperature approaches that of
the phase transition. In our simulation energies depend solely on orientation
of the molecules, so the increase in disorder is reflected in the increase
of lattice energy with increase in temperature [2].
|
Fig 2. The FCC (alpha) lattice (from Mulder et al.) |
|
Fig. 3 The HCP (beta) lattice (left, from Mulder et al.) and
precession of single molecule in the lattice lattice (right, from Scott). |
|
Fig. 4 Gamma lattice (from Mulder et al.) |
Next: The Potential
Back to Table of Contents