AUTHOR=Zanotto Edgar D. , Montazerian Maziar 

TITLE=Dominant Effect of Heterogeneous Dynamics on Homogenous Crystal Nucleation in Supercooled Liquids

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Physics

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physics/articles/10.3389/fphy.2020.00020

DOI=10.3389/fphy.2020.00020

ISSN=2296-424X

ABSTRACT=<p>Understanding the microscopic (molecular) mechanism of crystal nucleation remains intangible. For instance, it is still impossible to predict in which regions of a supercooled liquid nucleation will occur. Moreover, allegedly the Classical Nucleation Theory fails to describe the homogeneous crystal nucleation rates below the glass transition temperature. In this mini-review article, we revisit, critically comment, and link some highly selected recent studies using examples of an oxide glass-former, water, and a metallic alloy on the largely neglected effect of dynamic heterogeneities on crystal nucleation.</p>