Epitaxial growth of granular single crystals.
Compaction from a random-loose-packed to a random-close-packed phase is observed when monodisperse granular beds are shaken, but beyond this packing, the system freezes up in a jammed structure. Here we report a technique to grow large hard-sphere granular crystals, with perfect stacking and no defects by means of a "gas phase" epitaxial procedure. We study the growth mechanism and provide evidence that the observed granular crystallization is driven by gravity and energy dissipation.
Nahmad-Molinari
Y
Y
Departamento de Física Aplicada, CINVESTAV-IPN, Unidad Mérida, A.P. 73 "Cordemex," Mérida, Yucatán 97310, México.
Ruiz-Suárez
J C
JC