Melting in Monolayers : Hexatic and Fluid Phases

Abstract

There are strong evidences that the melting in two dimensions depends crucially on the form and range of the interaction potentials between particles. We study with Monte Carlo simulations the phase diagram and the melting of a monolayer of point-particles interacting with repulsive Inverse Power Law Interactions, $V(r)=Q^2(\sigma/r)^n$ where $n$ can take any real positive value ($n$-OCP monolayer). As $n$ is varied from 0 to $\infty$ (Hard Disks), including Coulomb ($n=1$) and Dipolar ($n=3$), melting occurs with different mechanisms and the overall picture permits to understand the diversity of mechanisms found experimentally or in computer simulations for 2D melting. The empirical transition curves for $n\leq 3$ and the excellent qualitative and semi-quantitative agreements with the KTHNY theory found for the melting of $n$-OCP monolayers with $n\leq 3$ are the main results of the present work.