Publication: Crystallization of ion clouds in octupole traps: structural transitions, core melting, and scaling laws
Files
Program
KU-Authors
KU Authors
Co-Authors
Calvo, F.
Champenois, C.
Advisor
Publication Date
2009
Language
English
Type
Journal Article
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Abstract
The stable structures and melting properties of ion clouds in isotropic octupole traps are investigated using a combination of semianalytical and numerical models, with a particular emphasis at finite-size scaling effects. Small-size clouds are found to be hollow and arranged in shells corresponding approximately to the solutions of the Thomson problem. The shell structure is lost in clusters containing more than a few thousands of ions, the inner parts of the cloud becoming soft and amorphous. While melting is triggered in the core shells, the melting temperature follows the rule expected for three-dimensional dense particles, with a depression scaling linearly with the inverse radius.
Description
Source:
Physical Review A
Publisher:
American Physical Society (APS)
Keywords:
Subject
Optics, Physics