Isostructural solid-solid transitions in systems with a repulsive “shoulder” potential

Using Monte Carlo simulations, we study the phase behaviour of systems with a short-ranged repulsive ‘shoulder’ potential. In analogy to systems with a short-ranged attractive interaction, the shoulder potential leads to an isostructural solid-solid phase transition. We show that the range of interactions for which a solid-solid transition is possible is much wider for repulsive than for attractive interactions.