Inhomogeneity of a one-dimensional Yukawa system in a trap

Abstract

A system of like charges interacting with a weak repulsive Yukawa potential and confined in a one-dimensional parabolic electrostatic trap is under consideration. It is shown that inter-particle distance in this system grows from the center of the structure to its periphery. The same effect takes place for the mean square displacement of particles from their equilibrium positions, which corresponds to the amplitude of thermal oscillations, and for the value of Lindemann parameter. This leads to different degrees of order for particles located at different distances from the center of the structure. This result might be important for the study of phase transitions in dusty, colloidal and one-component plasmas.