We investigate a possible trial state for liquid crystalline phases with hexatic order in two dimensions using a generalization of Laughlin’s wave function for a 1/7-filled lowest Landau level. This state has possible applications for the understanding of recent experiments showing melting at ca. 135 mK of the Wigner crystal to a fractional quantum Hall state at low filling factors [Phys. Rev. Lett. 88, 176802 (2002)], and for other problems in two-dimensional crystallization of one-component plasmas like electrons on the surface of liquid helium.

• Received 16 December 2002

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.67.155315