Skyrme crystal versus Skyrme liquid

We address the quantum melting phase transition of the Skyrme crystal. Base d on generic sum rules for two-dimensional, isotropic electron quantum liqu ids in the lowest Landau level, we propose analytic expressions for the pai r-distribution functions of spin-polarized and spin-unpolarized liquid phas es at filling factors 2/3 less than or equal to nu less than or equal to 1. From the pair-distribution functions we calculate the energy of such liqui d phases and compare with the energy of the solid phase. The comparison sug gests that the quantum melting phase transition may lie much closer to nu=1 than ever expected. [S0163-1829(99)08843-8].