Melting the fullerenes: A molecular dynamics study

We report a molecular dynamics simulation of melting and evaporation of the carbon fullerenes C₂₀, C₆₀, and C₂₄₀. Several phases, among them a previously unknown ``pretzel'' phase with a three-dimensional structure of multiply connected carbon rings, can be identified above the high initial melting temperature T{}4000 K. At T{}10⁴ K, a complete conversion of compact fullerenes to carbon chain fragments is driven by entropy.