Finite Temperature Quantum Effects on Confined Charges

Abstract

A quantum system of N Coulomb charges confined within a harmonic trap is considered over a wide range of densities and temperatures. A recently described construction of an equivalent classical system is applied in order to exploit the rather complete classical description of harmonic confinement via liquid state theory. Here, the effects of quantum mechanics on that representation are described with attention focused on the origin and nature of shell structure. The analysis extends from the classical strong Coulomb coupling conditions of dusty plasmas to the opposite limit of low temperatures and large densities characteristic of "warm, dense matter".

27 pages, 8 figure. Submitted to Physical Review E

References in corpus (10)

• Theory of ultracold Fermi gases
• Path Integral Monte Carlo Simulation of the Warm-Dense Homogeneous Electron Gas
• Classical and quantum Coulomb crystals
• Theoretical Description of Coulomb Balls - Fluid Phase
• Classical Representation of a Quantum System at Equilibrium: Theory
• Classical Representation of a Quantum System at Equilibrium: Applications
• Structural transitions of finite spherical Yukawa crystals
• Shell Structure of Confined Charges at Strong Coupling
• Charge Correlations in a Harmonic Trap
• Classical Representation of a Quantum System at Equilibrium