Solid superheating observed in two-dimensional strongly-coupled dusty plasma

TL;DR

This study experimentally demonstrates solid superheating in a two-dimensional strongly-coupled dusty plasma, showing the material remains solid above its melting point during rapid heating.

Contribution

First experimental observation of solid superheating in a 2D strongly-coupled dusty plasma system with atomistic-scale tracking.

Findings

Solid superheating observed during rapid heating.

Hysteresis diagrams show no liquid supercooling.

Particles tracked at atomistic scale during phase change.

Abstract

It is demonstrated experimentally that strongly-coupled plasma exhibits solid superheating. A 2D suspension of microspheres in dusty plasma, initially self-organized in a solid lattice, was heated and then cooled rapidly by turning laser heating on and off. Particles were tracked using video microscopy, allowing atomistic-scale observation during melting and solidification. During rapid heating, the suspension remained in a solid structure at temperatures above the melting point, demonstrating solid superheating. Hysteresis diagrams did not indicate liquid supercooling in this 2D system.