Many-particle dynamics and intershell effects in Wigner molecules.

We apply classical molecular dynamics within the velocity Verlet algorithm to examine the formation dynamics of Wigner crystals in two-dimensional harmonic oscillators. Using a large ensemble of initial conditions as well as different freezing mechanisms, we obtain reliable information on the energies and probabilities of stable and metastable configurations, their formation dynamics, and their stability. Wigner-crystal configurations of up to 30 particles are presented and the dynamics of transition processes, e.g., intershell effects, are analyzed.