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Equilibrium Crystal Shapes and Interfacial Phase Transitions

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Chemistry and Physics of Solid Surfaces VII

Part of the book series: Springer Series in ((SSSUR,volume 10))

Abstract

This chapter reviews the present status of the theory of equilibrium crystal shapes, with particular emphasis on the connection between the crystal-shape problem and recent results in two-dimensional statistical mechanics. Interpretation of the Wulff construction as a Legendre transformation allows the crystal shape to be viewed as a free energy. Thus, edges on the crystal shape correspond to thermodynamic phase boundaries, and critical behavior is observed in the neighborhood of certain edges. The thermal evolution of the crystal shape is reinter-preted from this point of view, and results are compared with recent experiments.

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  1. Department of Physics, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada

    Michael Wortis

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  1. Michael Wortis
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  1. Department of Chemistry and Laboratory for Surface Studies, The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, 53201, USA

    Ralf Vanselow

  2. Department of Chemistry, University of Auckland, Private Bag, Auckland, New Zealand

    Russell Howe

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Wortis, M. (1988). Equilibrium Crystal Shapes and Interfacial Phase Transitions. In: Vanselow, R., Howe, R. (eds) Chemistry and Physics of Solid Surfaces VII. Springer Series in Surface Sciences , vol 10. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-73902-6_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-73902-6_13

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