Crystal-Anticrystal Spectrum (IMAGE)
Caption
Physicists at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Chicago have evidence that a new concept should undergird our understanding of most materials: the anticrystal, a theoretical solid that is completely disordered. When modeling a material, instead of starting with a perfect crystal (here, in blue) and adding disorder, researchers can now begin with an an anticrystal (red) and add order. For some properties, even highly ordered real materials have more in common with an anticrystal than a perfect crystal.
Credit
Felice Macera, University of Pennsylvania
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