WIGNER MOLECULES IN NANOSTRUCTURES

The charge density and the pair correlation function of interacting el ectrons with spin, confined within a quasi-one-dimensional <<quantum d ot>>, are calculated by numerical diagonalization. The transition from a dense homogeneous charge distribution to a dilute Wigner-type elect ron arrangement is investigated. The influence of the long-range part of the Coulomb interaction is explicitly studied. When the interaction is exponentially screened the <<crystallized>> Wigner molecule is des troyed in favour of an inhomogeneous charge distribution similar to a charge density wave.