The structural changes during the phase change between the amorphous and crystalline phase in Ge 2 Sb 2 Te 5 have been the subject of intense study due to the importance of Ge 2 Sb 2 Te 5 in phase change memory devices. In our study, the energetics of the transition between the crystalline and the amorphous phase of Ge 2 Sb 2 Te 5 is explored using…