We consider systems undergoing very-low-temperature solid-solid transitions associated with minima of similar energy but different symmetry, and separated by a high potential barrier. In such cases the well-known "broken-ergodicity" problem is often difficult to overcome, even using the most advanced Monte Carlo (MC) techniques, including the replica exchange method (REM). The methodology that ...

Clay slurries are both ubiquitous and essential in the oil exploration industry, most commonly employed as drilling fluids. Due to its natural abundance, bentonite clay is often the...