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Crystallization in Two-Component Coulomb Systems

M. Bonitz, V. S. Filinov, V. E. Fortov, P. R. Levashov, and H. Fehske
Phys. Rev. Lett. 95, 235006 – Published 2 December 2005
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Abstract

The analysis of Coulomb crystallization is extended from one-component to two-component plasmas. Critical parameters for the existence of Coulomb crystals are derived for both classical and quantum crystals. In the latter case, a critical mass ratio of the two charged components is found, which is of the order of 80. Thus, holes in semiconductors with sufficiently flat valence bands are predicted to spontaneously order into a regular lattice. Such hole crystals are intimately related to ion Coulomb crystals in white dwarf and neutron stars as well as to ion crystals produced in the laboratory. A unified phase diagram of two-component Coulomb crystals is presented and is verified by first-principles computer simulations.

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  • Received 21 July 2005

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.95.235006

©2005 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

M. Bonitz1, V. S. Filinov1,2, V. E. Fortov2, P. R. Levashov2, and H. Fehske3

  • 1Institut für Theoretische Physik und Astrophysik, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Leibnizstrasse 15, 24098 Kiel, Germany
  • 2Institute for High Energy Density, Russian Academy of Sciences, Izhorskay 13/19, Moscow 127412, Russia
  • 3Institut für Physik, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universität Greifswald, Domstrasse 10a, D-17489 Greifswald, Germany

See Also

The Hole Crystal

Kim Krieger
Phys. Rev. Focus 16, 17 (2005)

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Issue

Vol. 95, Iss. 23 — 2 December 2005

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