Grain-boundary topological phase transitions
Abstract
We reveal the existence of a topological phase transition (Kosterlitz–Thouless type) in grain boundaries (GBs)—important internal surfaces in crystalline materials. GB dynamics are controlled by the formation/migration of line defects (disconnections) with dislocation and step character. Below the GB KT transition, disconnections of opposite signs are bound as pairs, while above it they unbind and proliferate. We demonstrate that GB KT transitions provide a fundamental understanding of many GB properties, the temporal evolution of microstructure, and how it deforms/degrades under stress.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Dec 14, 2020
- Source ID
- 10.1073/pnas.2017390117
Entities
People
- David J Srolovitz
- Jian Han
- Kongtao Chen
Organizations
- Army Research Office
- City University of Hong Kong
- University of Pennsylvania