Electron localization function for two-dimensional systems

E. Räsänen, A. Castro and E. K. U. Gross. Electron localization function for two-dimensional systems. Physical Review B. 2008, Vol. 77, p. 115108-2008.

The concept of the electron localization function ͑ELF͒ is extended to two-dimensional ͑2D͒ electron systems. We show that the topological properties of the ELF in two dimensions are considerably simpler than in molecules studied previously. We compute the ELF and demonstrate its usefulness for various physical 2D systems focusing on semiconductor quantum dots that effectively correspond to a confined 2D electron gas. The ELF visualizes the shell structure of harmonic quantum dots and provides insight into electron bonding in quantum-dot molecules. In external magnetic fields, the ELF is found to be a useful measure of vorticity when analyzing the properties of quantum-Hall droplets. We show that the current-dependent term in the ELF expression is important in magnetic fields.

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