title: Structural evolution in the packing of uniform spheres.
abstract: Structural analysis is very important to understanding the physics of atomic or particle systems of various types. However, properly characterizing the structures at different packing fraction ρ is still a challenge. Here we analyze the local structure, in terms of the so-called common-neighbor-subcluster (CNS), of sphere packings with ρ ∈ (0.2, 0.74). We show that although complicated in structure, there are totally 39 kinds of CNSs of which 12 are dominant. The evolution of these CNSs with the increase of ρ is quantified, and the rules governing the evolution are explored. The results are found to be useful in constructing a comprehensive picture about the critical states and their transition in sphere packing.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Simulation and Modelling of Particulate Systems, School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Z A
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Simulation and Modelling of Particulate Systems, School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Simulation and Modelling of Particulate Systems, School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Yu