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Title: Recrystallization of a 2D Plasma Crystal

Journal Article · · Physical Review Letters
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  1. Max-Planck-Institut fuer Extraterrestrische Physik, 85740 Garching (Germany)

A monolayer plasma crystal consisting of micron-sized particles levitated in the sheath of a rf discharge was melted by applying a short electric pulse to two parallel wires located at the height of the particles. Structural properties and the particle temperature were examined during the stage of recrystallization. A liquidlike phase was followed by a transient state characterized by energy release and the restoring of long range translational order while the defect fraction was low. No long range orientational order was found, though highly ordered domains formed locally. Numerical simulations revealed the same regimes of recrystallization as those observed in the experiment.

OSTI ID:
20861584
Journal Information:
Physical Review Letters, Vol. 98, Issue 1; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.98.015004; (c) 2007 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0031-9007
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English