Abstract
This chapter discusses the physics of solids, as distinct from gases and liquids. It begins with an introduction to crystals, emphasizing the positional and orientational order of the crystalline phase. As a special case, it considers the efficient packing of spherical particles in close-packed crystals, leading to the crystallization of hard spheres . It then goes on to discuss elasticity and viscosity, identifying the mechanical properties that distinguish all solids from liquids. Based on these mechanical properties, it shows how glasses can form as non-equilibrium, non-crystalline solids.
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Notes
- 1.
Here, we neglect the effects of surfaces and assume that the crystal goes on to infinity in all directions.
- 2.
In the general formalism of solid-state physics, the wavevectors in this sum are the reciprocal lattice vectors of the particular lattice; I will not discuss that concept further in this book.
- 3.
Water is a notable exception to this general rule, because crystalline ice actually has a lower density than liquid water.
- 4.
For more advanced readers: The only way to create a critical point in the crystal-liquid transition would be to apply a symmetry-breaking field that directly induces positional order. For example, suppose we apply a laser interference pattern, with the same spatial periodicity as the crystal. Under this symmetry-breaking field, the liquid phase would have a slight degree of positional order, and the crystal phase would have enhanced positional order. If the field strength is sufficiently great, the difference in positional order could vanish at a critical point. This is a fairly exotic situation, which does not occur in the ordinary study of phase transitions.
- 5.
As a historical note, Robert Hooke (1635–1703) and Isaac Newton (1642–1726) were both great scientists, but they were bitter enemies. According to legend, after Hooke died, Newton had all portraits of him destroyed, so we do not know what Hooke looked like.
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Selinger, J.V. (2016). Solids: Crystals and Glasses. In: Introduction to the Theory of Soft Matter. Soft and Biological Matter. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-21054-4_8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-21054-4_8
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