Magic Pore Dynamics in Weakly Interacting Clusters

TL;DR

This study investigates how pores in Lennard-Jones clusters relax depending on their initial phase, revealing that solid clusters can stabilize 'magic' pores at discrete sizes regardless of initial conditions.

Contribution

It demonstrates the existence of stable, discrete pore sizes in solid clusters, showing a new form of metastability in weakly interacting particle systems.

Findings

Pore relaxation depends strongly on initial phase state.

Solid clusters can stabilize 'magic' pores at discrete radii.

Metastable states are independent of initial temperature and size.

Abstract

Process of relaxation of Lennard-Jones cluster with an intrinsic pore was investigated by molecular dynamics method for different phase states of an initial cluster. Strong dependence of pore relaxation character on the initial cluster phase state was demonstrated. It was shown that, for the initially solid cluster, the system can reach metastable state where pore radius is fixed at one of the discrete set of values. These values do not depend on initial cluster temperature and size. Thus, it was demonstrated that, in a wide range of cluster sizes, inside solid clusters "magic" pores can stabilize forming a metastable state.