Evidence for a preroughening transition and a disordered flat phase in solid argon and krypton

Abstract

We have made high resolution heat capacity and vapor pressure measurements in argon and krypton multilayer films adsorbed on graphite that confirm the existence of new layering transitions at temperatures between the critical points of the low temperature layering transition and the bulk melting triple-point temperature. Comparison to a mean field study of a restricted solid-on-solid model shows that the observed behavior is expected when the bulk crystal has a preroughening transition leading to a disordered flat phase at its surface.

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