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Title: 3D Plasma Clusters: Analysis of dynamical evolution and individual particle interaction

Journal Article · · AIP Conference Proceedings
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2997286· OSTI ID:21251325
; ;  [1];  [2]
  1. Max-Planck Institut fuer Extraterrestrische Physik, D-85741, Garching (Germany)
  2. Lab. PIIM, UMR6633, CNRS-Univ. Provence, C. re St. Jerome, 321, 13397 Marseille (France)

3D plasma clusters (up to 100 particles) have been built inside small (32 mm{sup 3}) plasma volume in gravity. It has been estimated that the external confinement has a negligible influence on the processes inside the clusters. At such conditions the analysis of dynamical evolution and individual particle interactions have shown that the binary interaction among particles in addition to the repelling Coulomb force exhibits also an attractive part. The tendency of the systems to approach the state with minimum energy by rearranging particles inside has been detected. The measured 63 particles' cluster vibrations are in close agreement with vibrations of a drop with surface tension. This indicates that even a 63 particle cluster already exhibits properties normally associated with the cooperative regime.

OSTI ID:
21251325
Journal Information:
AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 1041, Issue 1; Conference: 5. international conference on the physics of dusty plasmas, Ponta Degada, Azores (Portugal), 18-23 May 2008; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.2997286; (c) 2008 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0094-243X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English