Angular melting scenarios in binary dusty-plasma Coulomb balls: magic versus normal clusters.

Area of Science:

• Computational physics
• Materials science
• Chemical physics

Background:

• Investigating melting processes in confined systems is crucial for understanding material properties under various conditions.
• Binary systems with varying electric charges present complex behaviors during phase transitions.
• Cluster structures and their stability are key to predicting material performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the melting processes of isotropically confined binary systems using molecular-dynamic simulations.
• To determine the angular melting temperature using a Lindemann-type criterion.
• To analyze the pathways of magic-to-normal cluster transitions and the influence of internal clusters on mechanical stability.

Main Methods:

• Molecular-dynamic simulations were employed to model the behavior of binary systems.
• A Lindemann-type criterion was utilized to define and calculate the angular melting temperature.
• Analysis focused on structural phase transitions, system stability, and the impact of cluster symmetry.

Main Results:

• The magic-to-normal cluster transition can occur via a first-order phase transition or a smooth transition involving shell widening.
• For large systems, the internal cluster has minimal impact on the external shell's mechanical stability.
• Highly symmetric configurations, like multiple ring structures, exhibit enhanced mechanical stability and higher angular melting temperatures.

Conclusions:

• The melting behavior of confined binary systems is dependent on structural transitions and particle interactions.
• Symmetry plays a significant role in the mechanical stability and melting point of clusters.
• Understanding these melting dynamics is essential for designing materials with specific thermal and mechanical properties.