Hard-sphere glass and the density-functional theory of aperiodic crystals

Abstract

A density-functional theory of freezing into an aperiodic lattice is presented. With use of freeenergy functionals for inhomogeneous hard-sphere fluids, the stability of a density wave with the structure of Bernal random packing is evaluated. Although the properties of the transition are sensitive to the form of the direct correlation function, the present calculations indicate a limit of metastability at a density ρ=1.03. The frozen lattice becomes more stable than the liquid at a density ρ=1.14.