The hydrodynamics of a two-dimensional hexatic phase

E. B. Sonin*, W. F. Vinen

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

The paper presents a simplified theoretical analysis of the hydrodynamics of a two-dimensional hexatic phase, based on the more detailed theory of Zippelius et al (Zippelius A, Halperin B I and Nelson D R 1980 Phys. Rev. B 22 2514). The crossover, with increasing frequency, of the hydrodynamic modes from those typical of a hexatic phase to those typical of a solid is studied in a free-dislocation model, and it is discussed whether in practice this crossover is likely to be strongly affected by the presence of dislocation pairs. The theory is applied to a two-dimensional sheet of ions trapped below the free surface of superfluid helium, and the effect of both a magnetic field and a finite ionic mobility is examined. The extent to which this system offers the possibility of experimental verification of the theory is discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2191-2207
Number of pages17
JournalJournal of Physics Condensed Matter
Volume10
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - 16 Mar 1998
Externally publishedYes

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