  The interaction of Stone-Wales topological defects in graphene has been
studied through computer simulation. This simulation has revealed
configurations of two defects with energies below the energy of a monolayer
with two spaced defects. This indicates the attraction between defects and the
possibility of the formation of their clusters. The attraction is due to the
interference between defect-induced wavy distortions of the structure of the
monolayer. In this case, the amplitude of transverse displacement of atoms near
a pair of defects reaches 2-3 angstroms. Such a strong deformation of graphene
by Stone-Wales defects can be one of the reasons for its experimentally
observed "crumpled" texture.
