CAN LIQUID-METAL SURFACES HAVE HEXATIC ORDER

We propose that extended orientational correlations can appear at the surface of supercooled heavy noble liquid metals, due to the same comp ressive forces that cause reconstruction of their crystal surfaces. Si mulations for liquid Au show a packed surface layer structurally akin to a defected 2D triangular solid. Upon supercooling, the density of u nbound disclinations decreases as expected in Nelson-Halperin's theory . It extrapolates to a hexatic transition about 350 K below melting, w here a sharp growth of orientational correlation length and time is al so found. True hexatic order is preempted by surface-initiated recryst allization.