Journal
PHYSICAL REVIEW E
Volume 75, Issue 3, Pages -Publisher
AMER PHYSICAL SOC
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevE.75.031402
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Using videomicroscopy data of a two-dimensional colloidal system the bond-order correlation function G(6) is calculated and used to determine both the orientational correlation length xi(6) in the liquid phase and the modulus of orientational stiffness, Frank's constant F-A, in the hexatic phase. The latter is an anisotropic fluid phase between the crystalline and the isotropic liquid phase. F-A is found to be finite within the hexatic phase, takes the value 72/pi at the hexatic <-> isotropic liquid phase transition, and diverges at the hexatic <-> crystal transition as predicted by the Kosterlitz-Thouless-Halperin-Nelson-Young theory. This is a quantitative test of the mechanism of breaking the orientational symmetry by disclination unbinding.
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