SURFACE ROTATIONAL DISORDERING IN CRYSTALLINE C60

Abstract
We present a theory of surface rotational disordering of crystalline fullerene. Realistic intermolecular interactions are implemented, in a layer-by-layer mean field theory. The crucial new ingredient turns out to be a one-body potential energy term, or "crystal field," is totally different at the surface, therefore locally frustrating bulk order. This frustration causes a severe surface order parameter reduction, and a first order surface rotational disordering transition, well below the corresponding bulk one. Preliminary results are in agreement with recent experiments, confirming a first order surface rotational transition of C 60(111) at a transition temperature lower than the bulk one.

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