Self-Diffusion and Structure of a Quasi Two-Dimensional, Classical Coulomb Gas Under Increasing Magnetic Field and Temperature

Abstract

The influence of a magnetic field applied perpendicularly to the plane of a quasi two dimensional, low density classical Coulomb gas, with interparticle potential U of r as 1 over r, is studied using momentum conserving dissipative particle dynamics simulations. The self diffusion and structure of the gas are studied as functions of temperature and strength of the magnetic field. It is found that the gas undergoes a topological phase transition when the temperature is varied, in accord with the Bohr van Leeuwen BvL theorem, the structural properties being unaffected, resembling those of the strictly two dimensional Kosterlitz Thouless transition, with U of r as varying as ln r. Consistent with the BvL theorem, the transition temperature and the melting process of the condensed phase are unchanged by the field. Conversely, the self diffusion coefficient of the gas is strongly reduced by the magnetic field. At the largest values of the cyclotron frequency, the self diffusion coefficient is inversely proportional to the applied magnetic field. The implications of these results are discussed.