Superdiffusion in quasi-two-dimensional Yukawa liquids

TL;DR

This study uses molecular dynamics simulations to explore how superdiffusion emerges and disappears in quasi-two-dimensional Yukawa liquids, revealing a transition linked to system dimensionality.

Contribution

It demonstrates the transition from normal diffusion to superdiffusion as the system's dimensionality changes, connecting superdiffusion to the behavior of the pair distribution function.

Findings

Superdiffusion occurs in quasi-two-dimensional Yukawa liquids.

A transition from normal diffusion to superdiffusion is confirmed.

Superdiffusion is linked to the system's effective dimensionality.

Abstract

The emergence and vanishing of superdiffusion in quasi-two-dimensional Yukawa systems are investigated by molecular dynamics simulations. Using both the asymptotic behaviour of the mean-squared displacement of the particles and the long-time tail of the velocity autocorrelation function as indicators for superdiffusion, we confirm the existence of a transition from normal diffusion to superdiffusion in systems changing from a three-dimensional to a two-dimensional character. A connection between superdiffusion and dimensionality is established by the behaviour of the projected pair distribution function.