Formation Conditions and Stability Criteria for Small-Size Cluster Systems

Abstract

The formation conditions and stability criteria for small-size cluster systems consisting of several particles interacting via an arbitrary isotropic pair potential are considered. Analytical criteria for instability development in horizontal (quasi-two-dimensional) and vertical (chain) structures consisting of three, four, and five charged particles are obtained for the first time. A simple algorithm to search for similar criteria in systems consisting of a larger number of particles is proposed. The obtained relations are verified by numerically solving the problem for Yukawa systems.