Contributed Notes
This page contains unpublished notes on various topics related
to solidification, contributed by members of the community.
Each contribution is the responsibility of its author. Anyone
wishing to contribute to this page should contact Jon Dantzig:
dantzig_at_illinois.edu
Equilibrium Shapes for Crystalline Solids, J.
A. Dantzig
The determination of the shape of a solid crystal in
equilibrium with
its melt was first described by Wulff using a geometric
construct. Mathematical descriptions were later developed. In
this
note, some of the various methods used to compute the Wullf
shape are
described. Particular attention is paid to the determination
of
forbidden orientations for crystals with large anisotropy, and
the
calculation of their Wulff shapes.