The quasilocalized charge approximation (QLCA) was proposed in 1990 [G. Kalman and K. I. Golden, Phys. Rev. A 41, 5516 (1990)] as a formalism for the analysis of the dielectric response tensor and collective mode dispersion in strongly coupled Coulomb liquids. The approach is based on a microscopic model in which the charges are quasilocalized on a short-time scale in local potential fluctuations. The authors review the application of the QLC approach to a variety of systems which can exhibit strongly coupled plasma behavior: (i) the one-component plasma (OCP) model in three dimensions (e.g., laser-cooled trapped ions) and (ii) in two dimensions (e.g., classical 2D electron liquid trapped above the free surface of liquid helium), (iii) binary ionic mixture in a neutralizing uniform background (e.g., carbon–oxygen white dwarf interiors), (iv) charged particle bilayers (e.g., semiconductor electronic bilayers), and (v) charged particles in polarizable background (e.g., laboratory dusty plasmas).
Strongly coupled Coulomb systems are characterized by localization ("caging") of particles trapped and oscillating in slowly fluctuating local potential wells. This observation constitutes the basic assumption underlying the quasilocalized charge approximation. Using molecular dynamics simulation we study the changes in the particles' surroundings (cages) in a classical three-dimensional one-component plasma. The results of our analysis show that at high coupling values, substantial changes occur only after several plasma oscillation cycles. We also analyze the oscillation frequencies of the caged particles and relate the decorrelation of the cages to the process of self-diffusion.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.