Topological defects and nonhomogeneous melting of large two-dimensional Coulomb clusters

The configurational and melting properties of large two-dimensional (2D) clusters of charged classical particles interacting with each other via the Coulomb potential are investigated through the Monte Carlo simulation technique. The particles are confined by a harmonic potential. For a large number of particles in the cluster (N>150), the configuration is determined by two competing effects, namely, the fact that in the center a hexagonal lattice is formed, which is the groundstate for an infinite 2D system, and the confinement that imposes its circular symmetry on the outer edge. As a result, a hexagonal Wigner lattice is formed in the central area while at the border of the cluster the particles are arranged in rings. In the transition region defects appear as dislocations and disclinations at the six corners of the hexagonal-shaped inner domain. Many different arrangements and types of defects are possible as metastable configurations with a slightly higher energy. The particle motion is found to be strongly related to the topological structure. Our results clearly show that the melting of the clusters starts near the geometry induced defects, and that three different melting temperatures can be defined corresponding to the melting of different regions in the cluster.