A defect-mediated melting-theory was proposed which was based upon the statistics of two types of lattice defect: point defects and dislocation pairs. The model predicted a first-order phase transition. Based upon the model, the phase transition temperature, latent heat and other thermodynamic functions were derived. Melting occurred due to the discontinuous growth of point defects into dislocation pairs. The calculated phase transition temperature for five alkali metallic crystals were found to be in fair agreement with the measured melting points. Richards’ rule was also derivable from the model.

Statistical Mechanics of Melting Mediated by Two Types of Defects. K.Liu, H.Chen: Physics Letters A, 2008, 372[7], 1109-13