SURFACE MELTING - NEUTRON-SCATTERING STUDIES OF MOLECULAR FILMS

Neutron diffraction and quasielastic scattering are well-suited techni ques for surface melting studies. Indeed, they allow measurements of d isorder and translational diffusion in the quasi-liquid layer which in tervenes at the solid-vapour interface (surface) of a crystal, when th e bulk melting temperature is approached. The principal results of neu tron scattering studies of van der Waals films deposited on powdered g raphite and MgO substrates are reviewed.