Why charges go to the surface: A generalized Thomson problem
@article{Levin2003WhyCG, title={Why charges go to the surface: A generalized Thomson problem}, author={Yan Levin and Jeferson J. Arenzon}, journal={EPL}, year={2003}, volume={63}, pages={415-418} }
We study a variant of the generalized Thomson problem in which n particles are confined to a neutral sphere and interacting by a 1/rγ potential. It is found that for γ ≤ 1 the electrostatic repulsion expels all the charges to the surface of the sphere. However, for γ > 1 and n > nc(γ) occupation of the bulk becomes energetically favorable. It is curious to note that the Coulomb law lies exactly on the interface between these two regimes.
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