Statistical Mechanics of Dense Ionized Matter. II. Equilibrium Properties and Melting Transition of the Crystallized One-Component Plasma

A study of the crystalline phase of a one-component plasma in a uniform background is reported here. Extensive Monte Carlo computations of the equilibrium properties in the classical region are presented and a value of the melting parameter ${\Gamma }_m=155\mathrm{}\pm 10$ is obtained. These results are extended into the quantum region in the framework of conventional lattice dynamics to estimate the solid-fluid coexistence curve in conjunction with the Lindemann melting criterion. A preliminary investigation is made of the effect of allowing the charge neutralizing background to respond to the ionic motion and it is concluded that the melting curve will be unaffected for ions with $Z\ge 2$.