We consider a classical, two-dimensional system of identical particles which interact via a finite-ranged, repulsive pair potential. We assume that the system is in a crystalline phase. We calculate the normal vibrational modes of a two-dimensional square Bravais lattice, first analytically within the nearest-neighbour approximation, and then numerically, relaxing the preceding hypothesis. We show that, in the harmonic approximation, the excitation of a transverse vibrational mode leads to the breakdown of the square lattice. We next study the case of the hexagonal Bravais lattice and we show that it can be stable with respect to lattice vibrations. We give a criterion determining whether or not it is stable in the nearest-neighbour approximation. Finally, we apply our results to a two-dimensional system of composite bosons and infer that the crystalline phase of such a system, if it exists, corresponds to a hexagonal lattice.
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