Experimental investigation of the premelting process in Sn

Melting of a real solid involves three stages: first comes surface melting, then the melting of grain boundaries, and finally the melting of the bulk. The first and second stages are often called "premelting." While surface melting and bulk melting have been extensively studied, melting of grain boundaries was not. We developed an optical method which allowed us to study all three stages of melting in pure materials. Using Sn crystals and polycrystals, we were able to detect melting of the grain boundaries inside the solid around 5 K below the bulk melting temperature, and thus lead to a better understanding of how a real solid melts.2 MoreReceived 28 August 2023Revised 12 October 2023Accepted 11 December 2023DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.109.024109©2024 American Physical SocietyPhysics Subject Headings (PhySH)Research AreasCrystal meltingGrain boundariesPhase transitionsPhysical SystemsElemental metalsTechniquesLight scatteringCondensed Matter, Materials & Applied Physics