  We perform Hartree-Fock calculations to show that quantum dots (i.e. two
dimensional systems of up to twenty interacting electrons in an external
parabolic potential) undergo a gradual transition to a spin-polarized Wigner
crystal with increasing magnetic field strength. The phase diagram and ground
state energies have been determined. We tried to improve the ground state of
the Wigner crystal by introducing a Jastrow ansatz for the wavefunction and
performing a variational Monte Carlo calculation. The existence of so called
magic numbers was also investigated. Finally, we also calculated the heat
capacity associated with the rotational degree of freedom of deformed many-body
states.
