Density functional theory for the freezing of charged hard spheres embedded in a uniform neutralizing background

Abstract

The freezing of equally charged hard sphères embedded in a uniform neu tralizing background is investigated theoretically using a recently developed density functional theory. We find a fluidfc.c. solid transition which naturally extends the uncharged hard sphère transition studied previously. As in ail similar cases investigated hitherto in the literature, the bec solid has been found to be metastable relative to the fluid. Several possible reasons for this rather surprising resuit are discussed in détail.