State between Liquid and Crystal: Locally Crystalline but with the Structure Factor of a Liquid

Using computer simulations, we study
a nonequilibrium state with
a liquid-like S(k) but where over
95% of the molecules are in locally crystalline environments. Due
to its liquid-like S(k) and slow
dynamics, the state is apparently amorphous, although it contains
nanocrystalline order. This nanocrystalline order can strongly bias
the polymorph that forms when the state crystallizes.