Melting a Copper Cluster: Critical-Droplet Theory

Abstract
We simulate the melting of a 71 Å diameter cluster of Cu. At low temperatures the crystal exhibits facets. With increasing temperatures the open facets pre-melt, the melted regions coalesce into a liquid envelope containing a crystalline nucleus, and the nucleus finally goes unstable to the supercooled liquid. Using the critical-droplet theory and experimental data for Cu, we explain the thermodynamics of the coexistence region.
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