The Role of Dislocations in Melting Physics

This proposal will measure how crystal symmetry dictates the exotic non-classical dynamics of dislocations as crystals approach and reach Tm to build a data-inspired multiscale model for melting physics. Thus far, the details of bulk dislocation pathways to melting are based on advanced multiscale models, yet untested. Experiments have been unable to resolve the in-situ dynamics of how subsurface dislocations contribute to melting, limiting melt theory to model systems that over-simplify the physics. A new computational method predicted that just as the symmetry of the lattice destabilizes towards a disordered liquid, a plethora of defect interactions should create numerous degenerate pathways to melt. Our work on Al confirmed exotic multiscale dynamics for a single material. For robust comparison, we must generalize these trends. Our findings will reveal the key dislocation physics required to describe how defects at the mesoscale contribute to melting.