On the nature of striped phases: Striped phases as a stage of "melting" of 2D crystals

We discuss striped phases as a state of matter intermediate between two extreme states: a crystalline state and a segregated state. We argue that this state is very sensitive to weak interactions, compared to those stabilizing a crystalline state, and to anisotropies. Moreover, under suitable conditions a 2D system in a striped phase decouples into (quasi) 1D chains. These observations are based on results of our studies of an extension of a microscopic quantum model of crystallization, proposed originally by Kennedy and Lieb.