Premelting Layer Research Articles

Acoustic Anomaly in a Pre-Melting Layer on a Crystal Surface Studied by Brillouin Scattering

A new mode related to melting is found by Brillouin scattering of the hydrogen-bonded ferroelectric LiH 3 (SeO 3 ) 2 crystal. The spectra of the mode show drastic precursor effects of the melting process. The anomalous increase of the spectral intensity and width has been observed in addition to the softening of the mode with temperature approaching the melting point. The new mode is assigned to be a longitudinal acoustic-type mode in the pre-melting layer.