Abstract
We study the Wigner crystal melting in a two-dimensional quantum system of distinguishable particles interacting via the 1/r Coulomb potential. We use quantum Monte Carlo methods to calculate its phase diagram, locate the Wigner crystal region, and analyze its instabilities towards the liquid phase. We discuss the role of quantum effects in the critical behavior of the system, and compare our numerical results with the classical theory of melting, and the microemulsion theory of frustrated Coulomb systems. We find a Pomeranchuk effect much larger then in solid helium. In addition, we find that the exponent for the algebraic decay of the hexatic phase differs significantly from the Kosterilitz-Thouless theory of melting. We search for the existence of mesoscopic phases and find evidence of metastable bubbles but no mesoscopic phase that is stable in equilibrium.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Article number | 055701 |
| Journal | Physical review letters |
| Volume | 103 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Aug 6 2009 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physics and Astronomy(all)
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Hexatic and mesoscopic phases in a 2D quantum coulomb system. / Clark, Bryan K.; Casula, Michele; Ceperley, D. M.
In: Physical review letters, Vol. 103, No. 5, 055701, 06.08.2009.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Hexatic and mesoscopic phases in a 2D quantum coulomb system
AU - Clark, Bryan K.
AU - Casula, Michele
AU - Ceperley, D. M.
PY - 2009/8/6
Y1 - 2009/8/6
N2 - We study the Wigner crystal melting in a two-dimensional quantum system of distinguishable particles interacting via the 1/r Coulomb potential. We use quantum Monte Carlo methods to calculate its phase diagram, locate the Wigner crystal region, and analyze its instabilities towards the liquid phase. We discuss the role of quantum effects in the critical behavior of the system, and compare our numerical results with the classical theory of melting, and the microemulsion theory of frustrated Coulomb systems. We find a Pomeranchuk effect much larger then in solid helium. In addition, we find that the exponent for the algebraic decay of the hexatic phase differs significantly from the Kosterilitz-Thouless theory of melting. We search for the existence of mesoscopic phases and find evidence of metastable bubbles but no mesoscopic phase that is stable in equilibrium.
AB - We study the Wigner crystal melting in a two-dimensional quantum system of distinguishable particles interacting via the 1/r Coulomb potential. We use quantum Monte Carlo methods to calculate its phase diagram, locate the Wigner crystal region, and analyze its instabilities towards the liquid phase. We discuss the role of quantum effects in the critical behavior of the system, and compare our numerical results with the classical theory of melting, and the microemulsion theory of frustrated Coulomb systems. We find a Pomeranchuk effect much larger then in solid helium. In addition, we find that the exponent for the algebraic decay of the hexatic phase differs significantly from the Kosterilitz-Thouless theory of melting. We search for the existence of mesoscopic phases and find evidence of metastable bubbles but no mesoscopic phase that is stable in equilibrium.
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U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevLett.103.055701
DO - 10.1103/PhysRevLett.103.055701
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:68849112057
VL - 103
JO - Physical Review Letters
JF - Physical Review Letters
SN - 0031-9007
IS - 5
M1 - 055701
ER -