Skip to main content
Log in

Equilibrium shapes of crystals attached to walls

  • Articles
  • Published:
Journal of Statistical Physics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We discuss equilibrium shapes of crystals attached to walls. Optimal shapes for different configurations of walls are found and the minimality of the overall surface tension is proven with the help of a simple geometrical argument based on the isoperimetric inequality and monotonicity. Stability results in the form of Bonnesen inequalities are obtained in the two-dimensional case.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. P. Curie, Sur la formation des crystaux et les constantes de capillarité de leur differente phase.Bull. Soc. Fr. Minéral.8:145–150 (1885).

    Google Scholar 

  2. J. W. Cahn, Critical point wetting,J. Chem. Phys. 66:3667–3672 (1977).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. J. De Coninck, J. Fruttero, and A. Ziermann, Non-typical Wulff shapes in a corner: A microscopic derivation; a 2D Ising drop in a corner, Mons preprint (1993).

  4. J. De Coninck, A. Messager, and A. Ziermann, Double Wulff construction for asymmetric media, Mons preprint (1993).

  5. A. Dinghas, Über einen geometrischen Satz von Wulff für die Gleichgewichtsform von Kristallen,Z. Kristallog. 105:304–314 (1944).

    Google Scholar 

  6. B. Dacorogna and C.-E. Pfister, Wulff theorem and best constant in Sobolev inequality,J. Math. Pures Appl. 71:97–118 (1992).

    Google Scholar 

  7. R. L. Dobrushin and S. Shlosman, Thermodynamic inequalities for the surface tension and the geometry of the Wulff construction, inIdeas and Methods in Mathematical Analysis, Stochastics, and Applications, Vol. 2, S. Albeverio, J. F. Fenstad, H. Holden, and T. Lindstrom, eds. (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1992).

    Google Scholar 

  8. R. L. Dobrushin, R. Kotecký, and S. Shlosman,The Wulff Construction: A Global Shape from Local Interactions (AMS, Providence, Rhode Island, 1992).

    Google Scholar 

  9. H. Federer,Geometric Measure Theory (Springer, Berlin, 1969).

    Google Scholar 

  10. I. Fonseca, The Wulff theorem revisited,Proc. R. Soc. Lond. A 432:125–145 (1991).

    Google Scholar 

  11. J. Fröhlich and C.-E. Pfister, The wetting and layering transitions in the half-infinite Ising model,Europhys. Lett. 3:845–852 (1987).

    Google Scholar 

  12. J. Fröhlich and C.-E. Pfister, Semi-infinite Ising model. I. Thermodynamic functions and phase diagram in absence of magnetic field,Commun. Math. Phys. 109:493–523 (1987).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. J. Fröhlich and C.-E. Pfister, Semi-infinite Ising model. II. The wetting and layering transitions,Commun. Math. Phys. 112:51–74 (1987).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. J. W. Gibbs, On the equilibrium of heterogeneous substances, inThe Scientific Papers of J. Williard Gibbs, Vol. 1,Thermodynamics (Longmans, Green & Co. 1906), pp. 315–326.

  15. C. Herring, Some theorems on the free energies of crystal surfaces,Phys. Rev. 82:87–93 (1951).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. A. Messager, S. Miracle-Sole, and J. Ruiz, Convexity properties of the surface tension and equilibrium crystal,J. Stat. Phys. 67:449–470 (1992).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. C. E. Pfister, Large deviations and phase separation in the two-dimensional Ising model,Helv. Phys. Acta 64:953–1054 (1991).

    Google Scholar 

  18. C. Rottman and M. Wortis, Statistical mechanics of equilibrium crystal shapes: Interfacial phase diagrams and phase transitions,Phys. Rep. 103:59–79 (1984).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. J. E. Taylor, Some crystalline variational techniques and results,Astérisque,154–155:307–320 (1987).

    Google Scholar 

  20. G. Wulff, Zur Frage der Geschwindigkeit des Wachstums und der Auflösung der Krystallflachen,Z. Krystallog. Mineral. 34:449 (1901).

    Google Scholar 

  21. W. L. Winterbottom, Equilibrium shape of a small particle in contact with a foreign substrate,Acta Metallurgica 15:303–310 (1967).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. R. K. P. Zia, Anisotropic surface tension and equilibrium crystal shapes, inProgress in Statistical Mechanics, C. K. Hu, ed. (World Scientific, Singapore, 1988), pp. 303–357.

    Google Scholar 

  23. A. Ziermann, Partial wetting in a three-phase system with a wall (1993), to appear; Interfaces and grain boundaries, finite size effects, refraction and global shapes (1992), Ph.D. Thesis, preprint CTS-92-06.

  24. R. K. P. Zia, J. E. Avron, and J. Taylor, The summertop construction: Crystals in a corner,J. Stat. Phys. 50:727–736 (1988).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kotecký, R., Pfister, C.E. Equilibrium shapes of crystals attached to walls. J Stat Phys 76, 419–445 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02188669

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02188669

Key Words

Navigation