ROLE OF LAYERING OSCILLATIONS AT LIQUID-METAL SURFACES IN BULK RECRYSTALLIZATION AND SURFACE MELTING

The contrasting melting behavior of different surface orientations in metals can be explained in terms of a repulsive or attractive effectiv e interaction between the solid-liquid and the liquid-vapor interfaces . We show how a crucial pan of this interaction originates from the la yering effects near the liquid metal surface. Its sign depends on the relative tuning of layering oscillations to the crystal interplanar sp acing. thus explaining the orientational dependence. Molecular dynamic s recrystallization simulations of Au surfaces provide direct and quan titative evidence of this phenomenon.