Violation of ice rules near the surface: A theory for the quasiliquid layer

We propose a theoretical model of a quasiliquid layer on the ice surface. Our model is based on the recently proposed theory of the transition of ice into the Bernal-Fowler state [I. A. Ryzhkin and V. F. Petrenko, Phys. Rev. B 62, 11 280 (2000)] and does not need any additional assumption. In our model, the unique properties of ice near the surface arise from a reduction in an order parameter due to a specific boundary condition on the ice surface. The theory may be directly generalized to ice/solid interfaces.