Charged two-dimensional quantum gas in a uniform magnetic field at finite temperature

Abstract

We present closed-form, analytical expressions for the thermodynamic properties of an ideal, two-dimensional (2D) charged Fermi or Bose gas in the presence of a uniform magnetic field of arbitrary strength. We consider both the homogeneous quantum gas (in which case our expressions are exact) and the inhomogeneous gas within the local-density approximation. Our results for the Fermi gas are relevant to the current-density-functional theory of low-dimensional electronic systems in magnetic fields. For a 2D charged Bose gas (CBG) in a homogeneous magnetic field, we show that the uniform system undergoes a sharp transition at a critical temperature ${T}_{c}^{\ensuremath{\star}},$ below which there is a macroscopic occupation of the lowest Landau level. An examination of the one-body density matrix, however, reveals the absence of long-range order, thereby indicating that the transition cannot be interpreted to a Bose-Einstein condensate. Nevertheless, for $Tl{T}_{c}^{\ensuremath{\star}}$ and weak magnetic fields, the system still exhibits magnetic properties which are practically indistinguishable from those of a condensed, superconducting CBG. We therefore conclude that while a condensate is a sufficient condition for the ideal CBG to exhibit a superconducting state, it may not be a necessary condition.