Local Symmetries and Order-Disorder Transitions in Small Macroscopic Wigner Islands

The influence of local order on the disordering scenario of small Wigner islands is discussed. A first disordering step is put in evidence by the time correlation functions and is linked to individual excitations resulting in configuration transitions, which are very sensitive to the local symmetries. This is followed by two other transitions, corresponding to orthoradial and radial diffusion, for which both individual and collective excitations play a significant role. Finally, we show that, contrary to large systems, the focus that is commonly made on collective excitations for such small systems through the Lindemann criterion has to be made carefully in order to clearly identify the relative contributions in the whole disordering process.Comment: 14 pages, 10 figure

Phase transitions in Ising model induced by weight redistribution on weighted regular networks

In order to investigate the role of the weight in weighted networks, the collective behavior of the Ising system on weighted regular networks is studied by numerical simulation. In our model, the coupling strength between spins is inversely proportional to the corresponding weighted shortest distance. Disordering link weights can effectively affect the process of phase transition even though the underlying binary topological structure remains unchanged. Specifically, based on regular networks with homogeneous weights initially, randomly disordering link weights will change the critical temperature of phase transition. The results suggest that the redistribution of link weights may provide an additional approach to optimize the dynamical behaviors of the system.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure

Properties of two - dimensional dusty plasma clusters

Two-dimensional classical cluster of particles interacting through a screened Coulomb potential is studied. This system can be used as a model for "dusty particles" in high-frequency discharge plasma. For systems consisting of N = 2 - 40 particles and confined by a harmonic potential we find ground-state configurations, eigenfrequencies and eigenvectors for the normal modes as a function of the Debye screening length R_D in plasma. Variations in R_D cause changes in the ground-state structure of clusters, each structural rearrangement can be considered as a phase transition of first or second order (with respect to parameter R_D). Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics are used to study in detail the melting of the clusters as the temperature is increased. By varying the density and the temperature of plasma, to which the particles are immersed, one can modulate thermodynamical properties of the system, transforming it in a controllable way to an ordered (crystal-like), orientationaly disordered or totally disordered (liquid-like) states. The possibility of dynamical coexistence phenomena in small clusters is discussed.Comment: 5 pages, 6 Postscript figures; to appear in Phys.Lett.

Spin-ordering in S = 1 anisotropic Heisenberg models with nondiagonal spin exchange

The properties of S = 1 anisotropic Heisenberg models with nondiagonal exchange between axial and planar spin components are investigated using Monte Carlo techniques. The quantum nature is taken into account in a semi-classical approximation. The ordering of the spins when applying an external field with axial and planar components is discussed. It is argued that the quantum nature of the spins and the nondiagonal exchange may explain the peculiar shape of the magnetic specific heat of FeBr2 as well as the weakly first-order phase transition observed in the same compound when a tilted field is applied.Comment: 9 pages, 15 figures included, to appear in European Physical Journal