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Amplitude instability, phase transitions, and dynamic properties in two-dimensional Yukawa clusters
I I Lisina1, О S Vaulina1, Е А Lisin1
1Joint Institute for High Temperatures, Russian Academy of Sciences, 125412 Moscow, Russia and Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 141700 Dolgoprudny, Russia.
Physical Review. E
|February 21, 2019
Summary
Amplitude instability in a seven-particle Yukawa cluster is analyzed. A link between the cluster
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Statistical Mechanics
- Computational Physics
Background:
- Yukawa systems are fundamental models in condensed matter physics, describing interactions in various systems like dusty plasmas and ionic crystals.
- Understanding phase transitions and instabilities in finite systems is crucial for bridging the gap between theoretical models and experimental observations.
- Amplitude instability can significantly alter the structural and dynamical properties of particle clusters.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the conditions for amplitude instability onset in a 2D seven-particle Yukawa cluster.
- To derive an analytical criterion for instability based on potential energy analysis.
- To compare the instability criteria of the finite cluster with melting criteria of infinite 2D systems.
Main Methods:
- Analytical approach to determine the critical points for amplitude instability by identifying energetically favorable inflection points in the system's potential energy.
- Numerical simulations to study the structural and dynamical properties of the seven-particle Yukawa cluster near the critical point.
- Comparison of simulation results with analytical predictions and established criteria for infinite 2D systems.
Main Results:
- An analytical criterion for amplitude instability onset in the seven-particle Yukawa cluster was derived.
- A direct proportionality was found between the melting curve of an infinite 2D hexagonal lattice and the analytical curve of critical points for the seven-particle cluster.
- Numerical simulations confirmed the system's behavior near the critical point and supported the analytical findings.
Conclusions:
- The study provides a method to analytically predict amplitude instability in small Yukawa clusters.
- The findings highlight a connection between the stability of finite clusters and the melting behavior of extended 2D systems.
- The derived criteria offer valuable insights for understanding phase transitions in confined Yukawa systems.
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