TIME-DEPENDENT PROPERTIES OF CLASSICAL ARTIFICIAL ATOMS

The time-dependent properties of a finite number of classical charged particles moving in two dimensions (2D) and which are confined by a pa rabolic potential are studied. In equilibrium those particles arrange themselves in shells. Using molecular dynamics we obtain the temperatu re dependence of the transition rate for particles jumping between she lls and the transition rate for intershell rotation. The temperature d ependence of the velocity autocorrelation function is studied. We rela te the behaviour of these quantities to the melting of the system. The results of our numerical simulation are compared with those from clas sical rate theory. The influence of a magnetic field on the particle m otion anti on the rate of jumps is also investigated.