Title: How ‘topological clusters’ of hard spheres determine its crystal structure

Speaker: Willem Gispen (UU)

Abstract:

How do materials choose their structure? Answering this question is essential for controlling the properties of materials ranging from pharmaceutical drugs to photonic crystals. In this talk, I will discuss the mechanism for the fundamental model system of hard spheres. To be specific, I will focus on the crucial role of ‘topological clusters’ and show how their transformations lead to a preference for the face-centered cubic (fcc) crystal structure. Besides shedding light on a long-standing mystery of hard spheres, this knowledge can be applied to predict crystal structures for other materials.

This seminar will take place in room L0.06