From disks to hexagons and beyond: A study in two dimensions

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Abstract
Crystallization of two-dimensional domain in monolayer films of the soluble surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate exhibits a smoth shape transition from disks to hexagons. This transition is experimentally proven to be mainly a kinetic effect. The appearance of negative curvature marks the onset of shape instabilities. A simple geometric model based on the local interplay between the line tension and crystalline anisotropy accounts for the observed behaviors. It is argued that the observed shapes are generic and insensitive to details of the actual mechanisms.