On the nature of striped phases: Striped phases as a stage of "melting" of 2D crystals

TL;DR

This paper explores striped phases as an intermediate state between crystalline and segregated states in 2D systems, highlighting their sensitivity to weak interactions and anisotropies, and their potential to decouple into quasi-1D chains.

Contribution

It extends a microscopic quantum model of crystallization to analyze the properties and conditions of striped phases in two-dimensional systems.

Findings

Striped phases are sensitive to weak interactions and anisotropies.

Under certain conditions, 2D striped phases decouple into quasi-1D chains.

Striped phases act as an intermediate state during the melting of 2D crystals.

Abstract

We discuss striped phases as a state of matter intermediate between two extreme states: a crystalline state and a segregated state. We argue that this state is very sensitive to weak interactions, compared to those stabilizing a crystalline state, and to anisotropies. Moreover, under suitable conditions a 2D system in a striped phase decouples into (quasi) 1D chains. These observations are based on results of our studies of an extension of a microscopic quantum model of crystallization, proposed originally by Kennedy and Lieb.