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arXiv · 1308.5479

Multiple ordering transitions in a chiral liquid

Pierre Ronceray·Peter Harrowell
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Abstract

We present here a numerical study of a lattice model of a chiral liquid. The low symmetry of the favoured local structure depresses the freezing point to reveal an exotic liquid-liquid transition characterised by the appearance of an extended chirality,prior to freezing. What mechanisms impede crystallisation in liquids with low molecular symmetry ? The ordered liquid can be readily supercooled to zero temperature, as the combination of critical slowing down and competing crystal polymorphs results in a dramatically slow crystallisation process.

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Pierre Ronceray, Peter Harrowell. 2013-08-26. Multiple ordering transitions in a chiral liquid. https://arxiv.org/abs/1308.5479

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