Monte Carlo simulation of nano-particle sintering

This paper uses a multi-state Potts model to simulate the sintering of nano-particles by boundary migration and evaporation–condensation. The variables in this simulation are the reduced temperature, a next-nearest neighbour weighting and the ratio of interfacial to surface energy. The effect of these parameters on simulation of sintering of two and three-particle clusters is systematically explored as a basis for the study of more complex aggregates.