Theory of Two-Dimensional Melting

Abstract

The consequences of a theory of dislocation-mediated two-dimensional melting are worked out for triangular lattices. Dissociation of dislocation pairs first drives a transition into a "liquid crystal" phase with exponential decay of translational order, but power-law decay of sixfold orientational order. A subsequent dissociation of disclination pairs at a higher temperature then produces an isotropic fluid. The critical behavior, as well as the effect of a periodic substrate, is discussed.