The T=0 phase transition of strictly two-dimensional electrons

We analyze the phase transition of a strictly two-dimensional electron crystal (Wigner lattice) to an electron liquid, at zero temperature. The phase transition is discussed in a model based on the interaction of a dislocated electron with phonons of a regular Wigner lattice. With the careful treatment of polaron self-energy, this theory gives the electron melting density in very good agreement with the result obtained from the first-principle calculations of Tanatar and Ceperley