Melting of a two-dimensional binary cluster of charged particles confined in a parabolic trap

Abstract

Melting of a finite size binary system consisting of two types of particles having different charges and/or masses, confined in a two-dimensional (2D) parabolic trap, is studied. The melting temperature is obtained for different values of the ratio between the charges and/or masses of the two types of particles. The two types of particles melt at different temperatures; e.g., particles with smaller charge melt first. The importance of the commensurate/incommensurate configurations and the different normal modes to the melting phenomenon is studied. When the ground state consists of a nonsymmetric arrangement of particles new thermally induced structural phase transitions are found. In addition, a remarkable temperature induced spatial separation of the two types of particles is found.