Two-dimensional melting

A constant pressure Monte Carlo method has been used to simulate the two-di mensional melting of hard-disks systems. By studying various properties of the system - diffusion coefficient, density of state distribution, bond-ori entation distribution, pressure-density phase diagram - we have confirmed t hat the liquid-solid transition is discontinuous, which can be detected eve n in very small systems with the help of Lee-Kosterlitz histogram method. T his result is important for the study of the diffusion and sinter of free m etallic clusters deposited onto a non-interacting surface. Usually, the num ber of clusters is very small and the region where the clusters stick toget her is restricted to a small spot.