Thermodynamics and phase diagram of multilayer krypton on graphite

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Abstract
We have studied the growth of the first three layers of krypton on graphite using high-resolution vapor-pressure isotherms at temperatures near the low-temperature layering critical points. Well below the critical temperatures the isotherms are consistent with a simple stacking of ordered hexagonal layers. At higher temperatures, there is a two-transition sequence in the second layer with a condensation transition followed by a weak anomaly which probably indicates breaking of the symmetry associated with the two degenerate ways of stacking hexagonal layers. This weak transition persists above the second-layer critical point. We analyze the isotherm shapes and find that the critical behavior weakens appreciably with layer number. Even at two layers, the critical behavior appears to deviate from the two-dimensional Ising model.