Nonequilibrium Phase Behavior during the Random Sequential Adsorption of Tethered Hard Disks

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Abstract
We simulate random sequential adsorption of tethered hard disks which undergo limited Monte Carlo surface diffusion to study kinetics and nonequilibrium phase behavior. Tethers allow the disks to move within a specified distance of their original adsorption locations, placing a control on the local entropy of each disk. As the surface coverage increases, systems with sufficiently long tethers form hexatic or crystalline lattices, while short tethers frustrate organization. Lattices form with surprisingly short tether lengths—on the order of one disk diameter.