Ordering of interacting subsystems. Molecular dynamics

The molecular dynamics method is used to examine the ordering of interacting subsystems in a two-component, two-dimensional Coulomb gas, consisting of equal amounts of positively and negatively charged particles, which simulates the behavior of a system of interacting vortices. In particular, it is found that when the system temperature is lowered from the Kosterlitz-Thouless transition point, additional ordering of the vortex chains may take place. It is noted that this process may stimulate the development of vortex chains observed in real superfluid, magnetic, and superconducting systems. Possible applications of the molecular dynamics method to phase separation and the ordering of adiabatically slowly moving subsystems in the collective field of a fast subsystem are considered. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 40, 1701–1704 (September 1998)