Melting-freezing cycles in a relatively sheared pair of crystalline monolayers

TL;DR

This study uses Brownian dynamics simulations to explore complex melting-freezing cycles in sheared crystalline monolayers, revealing irregular alternations between ordered and disordered states under increased shear rates.

Contribution

It uncovers novel nonequilibrium melting-freezing cycles in sheared crystalline monolayers and discusses potential mechanisms and experimental observations.

Findings

Identification of melting-freezing cycles under shear

Observation of irregular alternation between order and disorder

Insights into mechanisms driving nonequilibrium states

Abstract

The nonequilibrium dynamical behaviour that arises when two ordered two-dimensional monolayers of particles are sheared over each other is studied in Brownian dynamics simulations. A curious sequence of nonequilibrium states is observed as the driving rate is increased, the most striking of which is a sliding state with irregular alternation between disordered and ordered states. We comment on possible mechanisms underlying these cycles, and experiments that could observe them.