Melting and freezing at surfaces

Although melting and freezing are common phenomena in nature, the microscop ic mechanisms underlying these phase transformations are poorly understood. In the past decade, the possible role of surface and interfaces in inducin g melting of the solid or freezing of the liquid has been the subject of in tense research. Here, we present a brief status report. (C) 1999 Elsevier S cience B.V. All rights reserved.