PROPERTIES OF 2-DIMENSIONAL COULOMB CLUSTERS CONFINED IN A RING

The ground-state configurations of a two-dimensional cluster of classi cal charged particles which are confined by an external ring harmonic potential are determined. With increasing number of particles (N) diff erent structural transitions are found. First, the ring arrangement of particles undergoes a zig-zag transition. Further increasing N, more rings are formed which exhibit one-dimensional crystal-like structures . A normal mode analysis of the ground-state configuration is performe d, from which we obtain information on the stability of the ring clust er.