A counter-example to Kelvin's conjecture on minimal surfaces
Authors:
D. Weaire a;
R. Phelan a
| Affiliation: | a Department of Pure and Applied Physics, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland |
DOI:
10.1080/09500839408241577
Publication Frequency:
12 issues per year
Subjects:
Ceramics & Glasses;
Composites;
Condensed Matter Physics;
Crystallography;
Materials Science;
Metals & Alloys;
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology;
Polymers & Plastics;
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Abstract
Kelvin's conjecture, that a b.c.c. arrangement of his minimal tetrakaidecahedron divides space into equal cells of minimum surface area, has stood for over one hundred years. We have found a counter-example, in the form of a structure analogous to that of some clathrate compounds and also related to the β-tungsten structure. Its surface area is approximately 0.3% less than that of Kelvin's structure.
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