The dynamics of melting in two dimensions is studied, assuming that solids melt into liquids via a sequence of dislocation and disclination unbinding transitions. The hydrodynamics of solids, hexatics, and liquids in the presence of dislocations and disclinations is described as well as the dynamical response near the solid-hexatic and hexatic-liquid transitions. Although the theory is constructed with applications to free-standing liquid-crystal films in mind, it should be suitable with various modifications for films on solid substrates, lipid monolayers on water, and other systems.

• Received 27 February 1980

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.22.2514