Precursor-Mediated Crystallization Process in Suspensions of Hard Spheres
Precursor-Mediated Crystallization Process in Suspensions of Hard Spheres
We report on a large scale computer simulation study of crystal nucleation in hard spheres. Through a combined analysis of real and reciprocal space data, a picture of a two-step crystallization process is supported: First dense, amorphous clusters form which then act as precursors for the nucleation of well-ordered crystallites. …