QUANTUM MELTING OF A 2-DIMENSIONAL VORTEX LATTICE AT ZERO-TEMPERATURE

We consider the quantum melting of a two-dimensional flux lattice at t emperature T=0 in the ''superclean limit.'' In this regime, we find th at vortex motion is dominated by the Magnus force. A Lindemann criteri on predicts melting when n(v)/n(p) greater than or equal to beta, wher e n(v) and n(p) are the areal number densities of vortex pancakes and Cooper pairs, and beta approximate to 0.1. A second criterion is deriv ed by using Wigner-crystal and Laughlin wave functions for the solid a nd liquid phases respectively, and setting the two energies equal. Thi s gives a melting value similar to the Lindemann result. We discuss th e numerical value of the T=0 melting field for thin layers of a low-T- c superconductor, such as a-MoGe, and single layers of high-T-c materi als.