Phase Diagrams of Partially Ordered Materials

理论研究将进行结构和 复杂的、部分有序的材料的热力学性质。 两种类型的材料，准晶合金和铁磁流体， 将通过捕捉最相关的 能量和几何约束，同时保持简单 足以执行准确的，分析计算的统计 特性. 准晶是金属间化合物中常见而复杂的结构类型 合金，似乎是传统晶体和 金属玻璃 使用几何切片模型作为速记 描述真实的原子位置，相图和相 平衡结构之间的过渡将被研究， 相互作用、成分和温度的函数。 铁磁流体是一种微观永久性的胶体悬浮体， 磁铁。 除了技术应用， 材料具有内在的科学价值，因为它们提供了 偶极硬球流体的近似实现。 这 工作将建立稀释之间的阶段的性质 各向同性气体和紧密堆积的磁有序固体。 %%% 将在理论上研究的基本性质， 两种部分有序的复杂材料。 准晶体， 十多年前在某些金属间合金中发现， 产生这种不寻常现象的机制仍然是个谜 结构 磁流体，人工磁性材料， 应用程序，是有趣的基础上，作为一个真实的 物质系统 这两种迷人的材料将是 使用统计物理学的最新技术进行研究， 计算科学

Theoretical research will be conducted on the structural and thermodynamic properties of complex, partially ordered materials. Two types of materials, quasicrystalline alloys and ferrofluids, will be described by models which capture the most relevant energetic and geometrical constraints, while remaining simple enough to perform accurate, analytic calculations of statistical properties. Quasicrystals, a common but complex structure type in intermetallic alloys, appear to be intermediate between conventional crystals and metallic glass. Employing geometrical tiling models as a shorthand description of real atomic positions, the phase diagram and phase transitions among equilibrium structures will be investigated as functions of interactions, composition and temperature. Ferrofluids are colloidal suspensions of microscopic permanent magnets. In addition to technological applications, these materials are of intrinsic scientific interest because they provide an approximate realization of a dipolar hard sphere fluid. This work will establish the nature of phases between the dilute isotropic gas and the close-packed magnetically ordered solid. %%% Theoretical research will be conducted on the basic properties of two partially ordered complex materials. Quasicrystals, which were discovered over a decade ago in certain intermetallic alloys, remain a mystery as to the mechanisms which produce this unusual structure. Ferrofluids, artificial magnetic materials with many applications, are interesting on a fundamental basis and as a real material system. Both of these fascinating materials will be studied using the latest techniques in statistical physics and computational science.