Vacancy theory of melting
  The features of alternative approach of non-equilibrium evolution thermodynamics are shown on the example of theory of vacancies by opposed to the classic prototype of Landau theory. On this foundation a strict theory of the melting of metals, based on development of Frenkel ideas about the vacancy mechanism of such phenomena, is considered. The phenomenon of melting is able to be described as a discontinuous phase transition, while the traditional Frenkel's solution in the region of low-concentration of vacancies can describe such transition only as continuous one. The problem of limiting transition of shear modulus to zero values in the liquid state, as well as the problem of the influence of extended state of vacancies on their mobility, is discussed. 
Leonid S. Metlov
cond-mat.stat-mech cond-mat.mtrl-sci