FERROELECTRIC PHASES OF DIPOLAR HARD-SPHERES

The phase diagram of strongly dipolar hard spheres in the dense fluid and solid regions is investigated by Monte Carlo simulations. Main emphasis is given to the analysis of the stability of body-centered-tetragonal, face-centered-cubic, and body-centered-orthorhombic crystal phases. The existence of ferroelectric phases is demonstrated in agreement with the findings of previous simulations for dipolar soft spheres by Wei and Patey [Phys. Rev. A 46, 7783 (1992)].