Elasticity and metastability limit in supercooled liquids: a lattice model

TL;DR

This study uses lattice Monte Carlo simulations to show how elasticity extends the stability of supercooled liquids, impacting the understanding of kinetic spinodals in phase transitions.

Contribution

The paper introduces a lattice model incorporating elastic effects, demonstrating their influence on the stability range of supercooled liquids and phase transition dynamics.

Findings

Elastic interactions significantly increase the liquid's stability range.

The model suggests elasticity can suppress the kinetic spinodal.

Results have implications for real supercooled liquids and glass formation.

Abstract

We present Monte Carlo simulations on a lattice system that displays a first order phase transition between a disordered phase (liquid) and an ordered phase (crystal). The model is augmented by an interaction that simulates the effect of elasticity in continuum models. The temperature range of stability of the liquid phase is strongly increased in the presence of the elastic interaction. We discuss the consequences of this result for the existence of a kinetic spinodal in real systems.