  Experiments with two-dimensional (2D) plasma crystals are usually carried out
in rf plasma sheaths, where the interparticle interactions are modified due to
the presence of plasma wakes. The wake-mediated interactions result in the
coupling between wave modes in 2D crystals, which can trigger the mode-coupling
instability and cause melting. The theory predicts a number of distinct
fingerprints to be observed upon the instability onset, such as the emergence
of a new hybrid mode, a critical angular dependence, a mixed polarization, and
distinct thresholds. In this paper we summarize these key features and provide
their detailed discussion, analyze the critical dependence on experimental
parameters, and highlight the outstanding issues.
