https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2004-00171-4
Relaxation and ordering processes in “macroscopic Wigner crystals”
Groupe de Physique des Solides, Universités Paris-6/ Paris-7, Unité mixte du CNRS (UMR 75 88), 2 place Jussieu, 75251 Paris Cedex, France
Corresponding author: a saintjea@gps.jussieu.fr
Received:
3
November
2003
Revised:
25
February
2004
Published online:
18
June
2004
The equilibrium configurations of a macroscopic Wigner crystal (2D system of interacting charged balls, mechanically excited) and their evolution towards these equilibrium configurations are presented. In particular, the variations of the number of remaining dislocations at equilibrium according to the number of particles, confinement shape and temperature have been extensively explored. One important result is the exhibition of the rapid creation of an unique grain boundary and its shrinkage during the annealing.
PACS: 68.65.-k – Low-dimensional, mesoscopic, and nanoscale systems: structure and nonelectronic properties / 73.21.-b – Electron states and collective excitations in multilayers, quantum wells, mesoscopic, and nanoscale systems
© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag, 2004
