Electron-self-confinement in an electron gas with an intermediate electron density

The electronic and magnetic structures of thin films with intermediate electron densities, described by the planar uniform jellium model, are investigated using the local spin density approximation. A fully polarized ferromagnetic state, which has a periodic electron density along the perpendicular direction to the surfaces of a film, is the most stable among possible states. In such a state, electrons are self-confined to the valleys of a periodic potential induced by the electrons. This suggests that a 3D electron gas reveals phase transitions from an unpolarized or fully polarized fluid to a 1D electron-self-confined state, to a 2D one, and finally to a 3D Wigner crystal, as the electron density is lowered.